Today’s News in a Nutshell

KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.

Prime Minister’s Relief Fund balance exceeds Rs 16.15 billion

Financial contributions to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund and Prime Minister’s Relief Fund have continued following the Bhotekoshi River floods in Rasuwa. According to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the total balance in the funds has reached Rs 16.155 billion. The Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund has Rs 12.005 billion deposited across nine commercial banks. The dollar accounts maintained at Himalayan Bank and Laxmi Sunrise Bank hold $27.106 million. The government has already released Rs 1 billion from the fund for flood-affected areas.

Home Minister says helicopter rescue cost at most Rs 200 million

Home Minister Sudan Gurung has dismissed reports that billions of rupees were spent on helicopter rescue operations following recent disasters. Speaking to journalists after a meeting at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority on Wednesday, Gurung said reports that Rs 15 billion had been spent on helicopter rescues were completely inaccurate. He said the actual expenditure was around Rs 140 million to Rs 200 million at most. He said families staying in temporary camps following the Rasuwa floods will receive Rs 15,000 per month for six months to rent accommodation, with an additional Rs 2,000 for larger families.

Supreme Court seeks reasons for Durga Prasai’s arrest within 48 hours

The Supreme Court has ordered the Nepal Police to submit within 48 hours a written response explaining the grounds for the arrest of Durga Prasai. A bench of Justice Hari Phuyal issued a show-cause order in the name of the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police, directing it to explain the legal grounds and circumstances surrounding Prasai’s arrest. The court has also directed the police to submit details of the legal basis for his arrest along with their response. The Cyber Bureau arrested Prasai from his residence on Monday morning. According to the bureau, he was arrested based on a complaint filed by Rachana Khatiwada, a lawmaker from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).

Monthly wage workers protest at Jadibuti Company, production halted for 10 days

Monthly wage workers at the state-owned Herbs Production and Processing Company have been protesting for 20 days, resulting in a halt in production for the past 10 days. The workers have been protesting since Bhadra 24, demanding the implementation of the Social Security Fund, festival allowance and implementation of a ruling issued by the Labour Court, Bhaktapur. As most of the protesting workers are from the production section, production at the company has been halted since Ashoj 5. The workers initially reported for duty wearing black armbands from Bhadra 24. However, after the management allegedly hesitated to provide them with the same benefits as other employees, around 30 workers began staging a regular sit-in from Ashoj 5.

Bronze-winning Nepali women’s kabaddi team returns home

Nepal’s women’s kabaddi team, which won a bronze medal at the 20th Asian Games, has returned home. The team arrived in Nepal on Wednesday afternoon and received a warm welcome at Tribhuvan International Airport. Nepal secured the bronze medal after losing 48-24 to India in the semifinal. Upon returning home, team captain Manamati Bista said the team’s main goal had been to reach the final, but facing India in the semifinal made the challenge particularly difficult. She said retaining a medal at a major Asian sporting event was a significant achievement. Although the team’s strategy did not work out completely as planned, she said the players were satisfied and happy with the bronze medal.

Bhotekoshi floods cause over Rs 88.5 million damage to telecommunications sector

Information and Communications Minister Dr Bikram Timilsina has said the Bhotekoshi floods caused damage worth around Rs 88.5 million to the telecommunications sector. Speaking at the House of Representatives meeting on Wednesday, Minister Timilsina said mobile BTS, wireline, FTTH and backbone transmission infrastructure suffered damage worth Rs 88.512 million due to the floods. Of the 120 telecommunications sites in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading, 83 were disrupted. He said all but three sites that were completely damaged, namely Trishuli Three-B, Chilime Khola and Timure, have resumed operations. He said mobile coverage up to Timure-Rasuwagadhi was restored by using alternative towers and transporting equipment and solar systems by helicopter.

Damage to suspension bridge linking Dodhara Chandani and Bhimdatta raised in Parliament

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Gyanendra Singh Mahata has raised in Parliament the issue of damage to the suspension bridge over the Mahakali River linking Dodhara Chandani and Bhimdatta Municipality in Kanchanpur. Speaking at Wednesday’s parliamentary meeting, Mahata, who was elected from Kanchanpur-3, said a flood surge in the Mahakali River at around 11 pm on Tuesday damaged the tower block and spur area in the middle section of the bridge, completely damaging around 75 metres of the structure. He said two-way traffic across the suspension bridge has been completely halted following the damage. He urged the government to immediately deploy a technical team to conduct a detailed assessment, carry out reconstruction and inspect the structural safety of the bridge to resume traffic as soon as possible.