Rehabilitation programme for landslide, flood victims in the offing

The government is soon introducing a monsoon-induced disaster rehabilitation programme by offering safe shelter and land to all the people affected by the floods and landslides. Under the programme, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA) is soon preparing a report for the rehabilitation and relocation of people hit by the landslides and floods in safer places. A team led by CEO of NDRRMA Anil Pokhrel and five others officials representing the Ministry of Home Affairs,...

Hospitals, labs charging Rs. 4,400 for PCR test against govt order

Disregarding the government decree to charge only Rs. 2,000 for COVID-19 swab test, some private hospitals and laboratories in Kathmandu Valley are found charging higher amounts for Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests. When approached on the issue some patients and hospital officials conceded that some private hospitals were charging Rs. 4,400 for the PCR test with additional Rs. 50 for registration if any new patient is admitted to private hospitals. National Public Health Laboratory...

Govt assigns Law Commission to draft law on acid attack within 15 days

The government has initiated a process to introduce a new law on acid attack, punishment against the perpetrators and hearing on such cases at the earliest possible. A meeting of the Council of Ministers Monday entrusted the Nepal Law Commission to immediately prepare a draft of a new Act related to acid attack incidents. The Commission is given a 15-day deadline to prepare the draft to address all concerns of acid victims, with provisions of fine, imprisonment and compensation, Minister for Foreign...

Restriction order eased in Valley

A meeting of the Chief District Officers (CDOs) of the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley Wednesday decided to ease the prohibitory order issued three weeks ago in the valley to control the spread of the COVID-19. The meeting, however, decided to give continuity to the ongoing lockdown until September 16. The decision to adopt the measures to relax the lockdown came a few hours before the prohibitory order enforced three weeks ago was to expire.

Govt mulling selective restrictions if virus infections flare up

Minister for Finance and Communication and Information Technology Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada Thursday said that the government would take stern measures by adopting a selective approach if the present COVID-19 infection rate continued to increase.

Growing COVID-19 cases in security agencies alarm authorities

Coronavirus transmission rate has been increasing sharply among the security personnel in the recent days, who have to be deployed in the forefront to maintain security in the society. According to an updated record as of Tuesday, a total of 387 security officials have tested coronavirus positive with highest rate of infection among officials of Nepal Police when compared to the officials of the Armed Police Force and Nepali Army.

Another spell of torrential rains predicted

Meteorologists have predicted torrential rainfall in several parts of the country for next five days beginning from July 19 to 23, with high chances of occurrences of landslides and floods. “Monsoon trough is more likely to have its immense impact in Nepal from Sunday evening (July 19) for next five days,” Director General and senior meteorologist Saraju Kumar Baidya of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) said at a press conference organised by the National Disaster Risk Reduction...

Monsoon claims 77 lives, 42 missing

Floods and landslides have claimed 77 lives within a month after the monsoon entered Nepal on June 12.According to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), mainly two types of natural disasters -- landslides and floods --have claimed the lives of 77 people with 42 missing cases as of July 12.

Help overcome helplessness, hopelessness to stop suicide: Experts

When someone feels his social connectivity, personality and dignity impaired, he is likely to commit suicide at any time, sociologists, psychologists and psychiatrists said. This is applicable to all individuals, be they from well-off or poor families, they said.

19,000 Nepalis rescued from abroad in a month

Only a few Nepalis evacuated from different countries were found to be staying in hotel quarantines. The records of the COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre as of July 5, 2020, showed that out of 18,898 rescued Nepalis, only 895 were found staying in hotel quarantines. On Sunday alone, 604 Nepali people returned home.