- Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Jajarkot, Nov 5: Healthcare facilities are being provided in the open at Barekot, the epicenter of the recent earthquake.
The 10-bed Barekot health facility has made temporary arrangements for rendering services in the open after its building was damaged by the disaster.
Senior ANM Kalpana Rokaya said temporary arrangements are in place for providing healthcare services majorly targeting the quake survivors. Jajarkot continues to report the aftershocks of Friday’s late night quake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale.
Barekot lies in a distance of four kilometers from the center of the Ramidanda rural municipality.
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Government to provide Rs 200,000 per each quake dead as immediate relief
Kathmandu, Nov 5: The government has made a decision to provide Rs 200,000 per person who died due to the earthquake that struck Jajarkot on Friday night.
A meeting of the Council of Ministers held at Singha Durbar this morning took a decision to this effect, said government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma. She said this assistance is the first phase immediate relief.
Similarly, she said the Cabinet paid tribute to the deceased persons and decided to expedite the rescue and relief works and to provide free medical treatment to those injured in the earthquake.
One hundred and fifty-seven people lost their lives in Jajarkot and Rukum West districts as a 6.4 magnitude earthquake with epicentre in Jajarkot hit the districts.
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Chinese President Xi expresses grief over casualties, property loss in Friday’s quake
Kathmandu, Nov 5: Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his grief over the strong earthquake occurred in Nepal on the late Friday night, causing heavy casualties and property loss.
In his message of condolence to President Ramchandra Paudel on November 4, Xi said he was shocked to learn of the strong earthquake in Nepal’s Karnali Province, which caused heavy casualties and property loss, according to the Chinese Embassy in Nepal.
On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi expressed deep condolences for the deceased, offered sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The Chinese President stressed that he believes that under the leadership of Poudel and the Nepali government, people in the earthquake-stricken areas will be able to overcome difficulties and rebuild their homes as soon as possible, adding that China is willing to provide necessary disaster assistance to Nepal.
On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang also extended condolences to Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ over the Friday’s quake.
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Bodies of all those Nepali students killed in Israel brought home
Kathmandu, Nov 5: The remains of all ten Nepali students killed in the last month’s assault by Hamas militants in the south Israel have been brought home.
According to Foreign Ministry’s joint-secretary, Sharad Raj Aran, with the arrival of the body of Padam Thapa, of Lamikhal-8 in Doti via the Fly Dubai flight at 11:30 last night, Nepal receives the mortal remains of those killed in the attack.
Similarly, rescue efforts are underway for Bipin Joshi of Bhimdutta-3, Kanchanpur, who has gone missing since the assault on October 20.
Prabesh Bhandari of Sarada-3, Salyan; Ganesh Kumar Nepali of Jayaprithvi-6, Bajhang, Lokendra Singh Dhami of Malikarjun-4, Darchula; Dipesh Raj Bista of Lekam-5, Darchula; Anand Shah of Sapahi-6, Dhanusha; Narayan Prasad Neupane of Ghodaghodi-4, Kailali; Rajesh Kumar Swarnakar of Madhuwan-1, Sunsari; Rajan Phulara of Pachnali-3, Doti; and Ashish Chaudhary of Bauniya-3 in Kailali were others killed in the attack.
They had been in Israel under the ‘Lean and Earn’ programme offered by the Israel government for students under the Faculty of Agriculture in the Sudurpashim (Far-Western) University.
Following the attack, 254 Nepali were rescued and brought to Nepal by the government. It is said, the Ministry has planned to transport the bodies of Padam, Rajan and Prabesh to their respective home districts by a Nepal Army helicopter this afternoon.
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Prime Minister issues directives to make relief, rehabilitation effective
Kathmandu, Nov 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has issued directives for making the relief and rehabilitation for the Jajarkot earthquake victims effective.
Addressing the meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management National Council held in Singha Durbar today, he instructed the bodies concerned to carry out the relief and rehabilitation operations with the necessary preparation and by taking the earthquake affected people into confidence.
PM Dahal expressed profound sorrow over the big loss of life and property caused by the earthquake and stressed on the need of utilizing the disaster as an important opportunity for reconstruction.
The 13th meeting of the Council was convened to discuss the damage caused by the devastating earthquake that hit Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim, and the steps the government needs to initiate in its aftermath.
On the occasion, the PM directed one and all to be serious on making the post-quake rescue, relief and reconstruction effective, describing the initiatives made by the three tiers of the government and other bodies immediately after the disaster as positive.
He stated that preparations have been made to carry out works in a prompt manner by restructuring the existing Acts, regulations and structures based on the good practices during the time of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake.
“I thank all the parties, the federal government and various agencies, the provincial government and the local governments for their post-earthquake initiatives. We should have carried out works related to search, rescue and treatment yesterday, which we have basically completed. Now, we need to concentrate on relief and rehabilitation,” the PM reiterated.
He directed for managing warm clothes to the earthquake victims and for making treatment for them effective. Reminding that Nepal is a country vulnerable to natural disaster, the PM acknowledged that the government’s initiatives and raising people’s awareness on this have not been adequate.
“For the next three days, let us make maximum efforts for relief. Rehabilitation has to be made effective and we need the required Act, work procedure and structure for the same. The reconstruction works are not seen to be effective with the existing Act, procedures and structure. We need to make a sound review of our past experiences as well,” PM Dahal reiterated.
Stating that an effective work relating to earthquake had not taken place following the 2015 earthquake, he stressed the need for a study on the geographical condition and risks. “We must think about carrying out a geographical study and establishing human settlements. We should work to keep all required materials during disasters. Now, we store such materials. We will adopt a one-door system to distribute relief materials. We will stop misuse of relief materials. We will create an environment that reliefs are distributed through the central, provincial and local governments.”
In the meeting, participants including Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Beduram Bhusal, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Ashok Kumar Rai, Minister for Urban Development Sita Gurung, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala and Chief of the Army Staff Prabhuram Sharma commended activeness and hard work shown by PM Dahal during the quake.
“Prime Minister himself took initiatives in rescue efforts. Rescue efforts have almost been complete. Now, there are no reports of missing people. So, our focus should be on relief distribution,” said DPM Shrestha.
PM’s activeness during the disaster showed the seriousness of the government, said former minister Gangadhar Tuladhar. Claiming that all state mechanisms had been effectively deployed since PM himself took initiatives post-disaster, minister Basnet maintained that the government was successful in reaching out and assisting the quake victims.
PM himself taking a leadership in the rescue, relief distribution and treatment of the quake victims has spread a positive message, said minister Jwala.
Praising PM Dahal for his activeness during the disaster, Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet expressed his happiness for having a responsible and active PM. The whole state mechanism was mobilised during the disaster, said the Army Chief Sharma.
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Nepal Orthopedic Hospital celebrates Silver Jubilee
Kathmandu, Nov 5: House of Representatives (HoR) member and Finance Committee President, Santosh Chalise has insisted on the need of cooperation among the three-tier government to promote the healthcare sector.
In his address to the silver jubilee celebrations of the Jorpati-based Nepal Orthopedic Hospital on Saturday, Chalise highlighted the need of this kind of a hospital established as a non-profit organisation to provide a specialized healthcare service.
Also speaking on the occasion, Gokarneshwor metropolis mayor Deepak Kumar Risal pledged to ensure full support to the hospital to enhance its competency and develop it as a ‘model’ health facility.
Hospital medical director Dr Kailash Kumar Bhandari expressed the institution’s commitment to making its services more accessible and affordable. The hospital provides general services free of cost to indigent and disadvantaged communities and offers discounts on trauma and specialized orthopedic services. Currently, the100-bed Health facility has 19 specialist doctors.
As part of its corporate social responsibility, the hospital reaches out at least four times every year to the people of the remote parts of the country, and sets up orthopedic and neuro-related surgery camps for the citizens who lack medical treatment, according to Bhandari.
Hospital founding chair Shankar Raj Pathak, said they had to struggle hard to establish the hospital, urging one and all to acknowledge the hospital’s contribution to the health sector.
On the occasion, those who had played roles in the establishment of the hospital and its operation over the years were hounoured. They include the founders, domestic and foreign donors, health professionals and employee.
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Government to make integrated action plan to build quake resistant housing within one year
Kathmandu, Nov 5: The government has decided to make an integrated action plan and build earthquake resistant housing within one year for the rehabilitation of those affected by the Jajarkot earthquake, while enabling the search, rescue and relief distribution.
The emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar today took a decision to pick Surkhet as the main liaison office, and Nepalgunj as the auxiliary liaison office to make the search, rescue and relief distribution effective, said Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma, also the government spokesperson.
It was also decided upon to accept and thank for the assistances received through the formal proposal from neighbours and friendly nations for relief and rehabilitation of the affected people, she informed.
The government will provide Rs 200,000 to each families of the people killed in the quake, and the government hospitals will provide free treatment to the injured. Makeshift huts will be provided for the affected. “Since the reconstruction work cannot be effective through the traditional construction method and the existing procurement act, there is a demand to do the reconstruction work through a robust and effective mechanism, and an action plan will be made accordingly.
The modality of providing subsidies for the quake victims to construct houses has also been discussed. Real victims should get subsidies, and the houses built should be properly utilised,” said Sharma. The meeting also decided to provide lunch expenses to those deployed in the search, rescue and relief distribution and asked one and all to be patient in this time of disaster.
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Earthquake update: six more survivors brought to Nepalgunj
Janaki (Banke), Nov 5: Six more earthquake survivors from Jajarkot and Rukum were brought to the Nepalgunj-based Bheri Hospital in Banke.
According to Banke’s Chief District Officer, Shrawan Kumar Pokharel, they were brought to the hospital at 12:30 am today on an ambulance. Of them, two are from Bheri municipality in Jajarkot and four from the Sanobheri rural municipality in Rukum. Till date, the number of earthquake survivors brought from quake-stricken districts here for treatment has reached 38.
Untill last midnight, five underwent successful surgeries, according to the CDO. The condition of all the injured is improving, it is said.
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Relief materials arrive Aathbiskot
Tribeni (Rukum West), Nov 5: Relief materials have arrived in Aathbiskot of Rukum West for recent earthquake survivors. The Nepal Army helicopter arrived here with the supplies dispatched by the Karnai Province government.
The local government has commenced distribution and it received biscuits, noodles, and tents from Surkhet in the initial phase.
Tek Bahadur Chand, the store chief of the Aathbishkot municipality stated that they will continue to receive assistance for other areas as well.
The local government is preparing to provide daily essentials likes pulses, rice, salt and cooking oil to the survivors.
Ward number 11, 12, 13 and 14 have been the most affected by the earthquake that struck Rukum West and Jajarkot late on Friday night. The earthquake measured 6.4 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter in Jajarkot, resulting in significant casualties and property damage.
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Oman lifts ICC T20 Asia Qualifier
Kathmandu, Nov 5: Oman has bagged the title of the ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier by beating Nepal by 11 runs in the super over at the Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground. After tying at 184 runs in the allotted 20 overs, the match entered the super over. Batting first, in the super over, Oman posted a target of 22 runs for Nepal. Chasing the target, Nepal lost a wicket of Kushal Bhurtel in the first ball. They faced a dot ball from Bilal Khan and collected two runs each from the third and fourth ball. Kushal Malla hit two boundaries in the fifth and sixth ball each.
Prior to this, winning the toss and batting first, Nepal made 184 runs in the allotted 20 overs at the loss of six wickets. Chasing the target of 185 runs, Oman played a draw in 20 overs at the loss of nine wickets, leading to the super over.
For Oman, Kashyap Prajapati hit highest 63 runs off 52 balls with four sixes and three fours. Similarly, Captain Zeeshan Maqsood made 26 off 18 with two boundaries and one six. Aqib Ilyas hit 33 from 19 with three sixes and two fours while Pratik Athavale contributed seven.
For Nepal, Sandeep Lamichhane and Karan KC took two wickets each. Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Abinash Bohora and Bibek Yadav claimed one each.
In Nepal’s innings, Jha contributed 54 off 25, including four sixes and five boundaries. He was the fifth Nepali wicket to be out. Similarly, skipper Rohit Poudel remained unbeaten on 52 with two sixes and five fours.
Nepal had to lose Asif Sheikh as its first wicket. He hit six off six. Sheikh was caught out by Prajapati in the fourth ball of the third over from Khan. Similarly, Neal lost Sandip Jora as its second wicket. He made four off 13. Lamichhane was bowled out by Maqsood. Bhurtel was Nepal’s fourth wicket to be taken. He made 31 off 22 with three fours and two sixes.
Nepal’s fourth wicket Malla was run out for three by Ilyas. Likewise, Yadav made three before being out while KC hit 20 not out.
On the bowling side, Khan of Oman took three wickets while Ilyas two. Similarly, Maqsood took one.
Earlier, Nepal suffered a five-wicket defeat against Oman in the last match of the group stage.
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Bharatpur metropolis announces Rs 10 million assistance for quake survivors
Chitwan, Nov 5: The Bharatpur metropolis in Chitwan has announced the monetary assistance worth Rs 10 million for the earthquake survivors in Jajarkot and Rukum West.
The 87th executive meeting of the Metropolis today decided to deposit the amount to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund, according to Mayor Renu Dahal. The assistance is meant for supporting the rescue, relief, treatment, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the disaster-hit areas.
The local representatives have agreed to contribute the one month’s remuneration, employees of officer-level their five days’ remuneration, assistant-level employees three days’ remuneration, the secondary-level teachers of three days and basic school teachers of two days to the fund. Likewise, the remaining funds will be managed by the Disaster Management Fund at the local level.
According to the mayor, the entire Bharatpur folks have been appealed to join hands in the efforts to assist the survivors.
The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter in Jajarkot on Friday late night, resulted in significant casualties and property damage.
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Mustang and Dolpa connected by motorable road
Myagdi, Nov 5: A roadway linking Mustang of Gandaki and Dolpa of Karnali province has opened for traffic.
Waragung Muktichhetra rural municipality of Mustang and Chharka Tangsong rural municipality have been linked with the road constructed under the Manang-Mustang-Dolpa-Jumla Road Project of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
Waragung Muktichhetra rural municipality, Ward No 4 chair Surendra Gurung said the work of opening the road linking Mustang and Dolpa has been completed with four years’ efforts. “Tractors have travelled on the road from Mustang to Dolpa and vice-versa on Saturday. People from northern Dolpa who used to come here on foot taking weeks can now travel in a single day. The need to transport goods loading on the back of horses, mule, yak and donkeys has now gone for the good,” he said.
The 56.5 kilometres long road was constructed at an investment of approximately Rs 200 million, according to the Road Division Office, Baglung. The road is constructed in the geographically difficult and remote Yakkharka area at an altitude of more than 4,000 metres from the mean sea level.
The road from Eklebhatti runs through Sangta, the last human settlement in Mustang and up to the border of Dolpa district.
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Bhusal appointed TU officiating Vice-Chancellor
Kathmandu, Nov 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has assigned Tribhuvan University (TU) Rector Prof Shiva Lal Bhusal to take charge of the Vice Chancellor until the next decision is taken. The post has been lying vacant since November 2 with the ending of a four-year term of Prof Dr Dharma Kanta Baskota.
According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Bhusal was appointed on the post today for maximum three months in accordance with the TU Act-2049 BS (1992). Dr Bhusal was appointed in the vacant post today by the Prime Minister and the TU Chancellor.
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Parliamentary committee instructs govt to distribute relief through one-door system
Kathmandu, Nov 5: The National Concern and Coordination Committee under the National Assembly has directed the government to distribute relief through a one-door system for the people affected by the Jajarkot earthquake that took place on Friday night.
While offering sorrow over the loss in the tragedy, today’s meeting of the Committee instructed the government to effectively work in the rescue and relief distribution.
“The Committee directs the arrangement of rescue efforts and treatment, relief distribution and rehabilitation of those affected by the quake, and the joining hands for the prompt reconstruction work by making a proper action plan.”
The meeting chaired by the Committee President Dil Kumari Rawal also decided to inspect an organic agriculture project running at Danchhi in Kathmandu, it has been said.
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NC lawmakers to donate half-month remunerations to quake survivors
Kathmandu, Nov 5: The members in the Federal Parliament representing the Nepali Congress (NC) has decided to contribute the remunerations of 15 days for the cause of recent earthquake survivors in the Karnali Province.
A meeting of the NC parliamentary party today took a decision to this regard, according to the party source
The meeting took place at the party president’s Dhumbarahi-based resident extended heartfelt condolences to those families grieving the loss of family members in the disaster and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba chaired the meeting. The assistance amount will be provided to the government, it is said.
Party Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said the meeting expressed a deep grief over the causalities and the property loss due to the quake.
The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale at 11:47 pm on Friday, with its epicenter in Jajarkot, resulted in significant casualties and property damage. So far 157 have been confirmed dead in the quake.
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All earthquake survivors will get relief assistance within two days: DPM Khadka
Kathmandu, Nov 5: Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka has paid tribute to those people who lost their life to the recent devastating earthquake in Jajarkot, including Sarita Singh, deputy mayor of Nalgad Municipality, Jajarkot.
The DPM paid tribute to the deputy mayor Singh by draping her body with the national flag during a mass cremation organised for the earthquake dead on the bank of the Triveni River in Jajarkot this afternoon.
Chief Minister of Karnali province Raj Kumar Sharma was also present on the occasion.
DPM Khadka said that the government has kept medical treatment, relief and rehabilitation of the earthquake survivors in priority. Stating that the government was successful in rescuing the quake-injured people in a single day by mobilizing the entire state apparatus, he said the distribution of relief to the survivors has begun from today itself.
“We have dispatched the relief materials in such a way they will reach all the earthquake-affected people within two days. More relief is on the way. We will distribute the relief at the same pace we carried out the rescue operation,” he said, adding that the reconstruction works would be started immediately after the relief distribution is over.
The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale at 11:47 pm on Friday, with its epicenter in Jajarkot, resulted in significant casualties and property damage. So far 157 have been confirmed dead in the quake.
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