KATHMANDU: Stay updated with Nepal News’ evening briefing, bringing you the day’s most important developments from Nepal and across the globe. From politics and economy to sports, entertainment, and culture, we deliver a concise roundup of the top news you need to know.
8 More Bodies Recovered in Himlung Avalanche, Death Toll Reaches 15
Eight more bodies were recovered on Thursday from the avalanche that struck Himlung Mountain in Narphabhumi Rural Municipality-5, Manang. With this latest recovery, the death toll from the avalanche that occurred on September 27 has climbed to 15. Assistant Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Poudel informed that four bodies were retrieved on Thursday morning, followed by four more in the afternoon. Seven bodies had been recovered previously. One climber remains missing in the Himlung avalanche. “Two bodies have been brought to the district headquarters, Chame, while six have been brought to Phu village,” said Assistant CDO Poudel. “Since night has fallen, helicopter flights cannot operate. We will transport the remaining bodies on Friday.” The bodies were airlifted today using a Nepalese Army helicopter. Meanwhile, a Nepali Army team—in coordination with local authorities and other security agencies—is also working to clear the dammed Marshyangdi River at Thado Khola in Chame Rural Municipality-4 caused by landslides, as well as restoring disrupted power transmission lines.
PM Balen Shah Expresses Gratitude to Australia for Flood Relief Assistance
Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah has expressed deep gratitude to the Australian government for its friendship, solidarity, and aid in the aftermath of the recent devastating floods and landslides in Nepal. The Prime Minister conveyed his thanks during a courtesy call paid by the Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Simon Ernst, at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar today. During the meeting, Prime Minister Shah noted that the floods and landslides had caused severe loss of life and property, emphasizing that the Government of Nepal is mobilizing all available resources for search, rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts. He praised Australia’s swift response, which included deploying expert drone operators, relief supplies, and a 17-member disaster assistance and response team immediately following the disaster. Furthermore, Prime Minister Shah stated that Australia’s aid package of AUD 11 million stands as a testament to the strong bond between the two nations.
Federal Civil Service Bill Registered in Parliament
The government has registered the much-anticipated Federal Civil Service Bill, 2026 in the Federal Parliament Secretariat. Ekram Giri, spokesperson for the Secretariat, informed that Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Pratibha Rawal registered the bill in parliament today. Presented as a government bill, its registration number is 35. The Cabinet meeting on September 29 had approved the submission of the bill—formulated to amend and integrate laws related to the federal civil service—to the Federal Parliament. The government explained that the bill is necessary to systematically, clearly, and effectively regulate the administrative relationship, jurisdiction, and cooperation among the federal, provincial, and local levels in accordance with the federal governance system.
President Paudel Prorogues Ongoing Session of Federal Parliament
President Ram Chandra Paudel has prorogued the ongoing session of both houses of the Federal Parliament. According to a press release issued on Thursday by Krishna Bahadur Shahi, spokesperson for the Office of the President, President Paudel prorogued both houses of the Federal Parliament in accordance with Article 93, Sub-clause (2) of the Constitution of Nepal, on the recommendation of the Cabinet meeting held on September 29. The prorogation of the session will come into effect from midnight on Friday, October 2.
Foreign Minister Khanal Leaving for Fiji to Attend Pre-COP Leaders’ Event
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal, is leaving for Fiji on October 3, leading a Nepali delegation to the Pre-COP Leaders’ Event to be held in Fiji and Tuvalu on October 5-6. According to a press release issued by the Ministry on Thursday, Foreign Minister Khanal will deliver his remarks at the Leaders’ Plenary on October 6. Prior to the Plenary, the Minister is scheduled to attend a media question and answer session with the President of Palau, the Prime Ministers of Australia and Fiji. Following his participation in Pre-COP Leaders’ event, the he will travel to Australia, where he is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong on October 8. During his visit, Minister Khanal is participating in separate programmes organised by the Embassy of Nepal in Canberra and the Nepali diaspora in Sydney. He is scheduled to return home on October 12.
German Firms Halt Passport Service Over Unpaid Dues
The passport distribution server at the Department of Passports went down on Thursday, halting biometric services for applicants. The disruption follows the government’s failure to make payments to two German companies, Veridos and Muhlbauer, as per their contract agreements. The two companies were awarded contracts for the supply, personalization, and distribution of 6.4 million e-passports. According to the agreements, Veridos is owed approximately Rs 400 million, while Muhlbauer is owed about Rs 820 million. Government officials have cited a pending case at the Special Court and directives from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority as reasons for withholding the payments. Representatives for the German firms argue that the Supreme Court has already upheld the legality of the contract, and that pending cases in lower courts should not be used to justify withholding payments. During a virtual meeting on Wednesday, the companies warned that they would not continue operations without receiving the contractually agreed-upon funds.
India Delays Naming New Envoy as Ambassador Srivastava Concludes Nepal Tenure
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava returned home upon concluding his diplomatic assignment in Kathmandu, with Deputy Chief of Mission Rakesh Pandey slated to assume temporary charge of the embassy. Srivastava formally took office as India’s envoy to Nepal on June 25, 2022. A member of the 1993 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), he began his career in Hong Kong before handling bilateral affairs in Beijing, serving as Counsellor (Political) in Washington D.C., and working as Consul General in Shanghai. His career trajectory also includes serving as Ambassador to Cambodia (2015–2017) and completing a two-year deputation as Director General and Corporate Secretary at the New Development Bank in Shanghai (2017–2019). Before his posting to Kathmandu, Srivastava headed the Ministry of External Affairs’ East Asia Division in New Delhi, overseeing ties with China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, and Mongolia. He holds an engineering degree from IIT Delhi and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland. Unlike previous diplomatic handovers where New Delhi named a successor well ahead of an outgoing envoy’s departure, India has yet to designate its next ambassador to Kathmandu.
Election Commission Submits Annual Report to President Paudel
Chief Election Commissioner Man Bahadur Karki has submitted the annual report of the Election Commission for the fiscal year 2025/26 to President Ram Chandra Paudel. The report was presented during a program held at the Office of the President on Thursday. According to a statement issued by commission spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Shahi, the document was submitted in accordance with Article 294 of the Constitution of Nepal.
16 Tourists Stranded in Manang Rescued
A total of 16 Indonesian tourists, stranded in Manang, were brought to Lamjung by helicopter. They were airlifted from Ghatang Agro area in Nisyang Rural Municipality-1, Manang to Sahajee, Besisahar Municipality-7, Lamjung via a Dynasty helicopter. The tourists were on trek along the Annapurna Circuit. Due to torrential rain from September 24-27, landslides occurred in various places, leaving them stranded in the Ghatang Agro area. They were rescued with the use of helicopter, said Jitendra Bahadur Basnet, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Lamjung. After being brought to Lamjung, they headed towards Pokhara using vehicles numbered GA1JA 3740 and Ba.Pra.01–007 Kha 1680.
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