- Saturday, 13 September 2025
Birendranagar, July 25: A couple died due to electric shock at Birendranagar Municipality-12 in Surkhet district today, police confirmed.
The couple got the electric shock while using a grass cutter machine at Neware village in the municipality.
According to the District Police Office, Surkhet, Dhaniram Acharya, 55, and his spouse Dhan Kumari were critically hurt after the electric shock while cutting grass at their home.
The two died while receiving treatment at the Province Hospital in Birendranagar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mohan Jung Budhthapa said.
An investigation into the incident is underway while police suspect that the accident may have happened due to technical glitches in the grass cutter machine.
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HoR discusses Bill on Tilganga Eye University
Kathmandu, July 25: The House of Representatives (HoR) endorsed a proposal, seeking consideration on the Bill on Tilganga Eye University, 2081. The Bill was originated in the Upper House and sent to HoR for discussion.
Speaker Devraj Ghimire announced that the Bill presented by the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Raghuji Panta, was endorsed unanimously.
During the deliberations on the Bill, Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, lauded the development Nepal made in treatment of eye. “An eye university is imperative in Nepal to make the eye treatment specialties broader. I welcome the Bill,” he said, appreciating the role played by ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit in the eye treatment.
Gyanendra Bahadur Karki remembered the contribution of Dr Sanduk Ruit who he said had conducted eye surgery free of cost to over 100 thousand people. So, it is commendable initiative to open the Tilgang university under his leadership, he added.
Bimala Subedi underlined the need for production of competent workforce from the Tilganga Eye University. There are separate standard within a university so an umbrella act is also needed, she reminded.
Moreover, Basudev Ghimire said Nepal should be established as a hub of eye treatment.
In response to the queries raised during the discussion, Minister Panta said the Tilganga Eye University being set up in Nepal would help provide service to eye patients in an affordable and convenience manner.
“A thorough discussion was held with Dr Ruit on how the Bill could be made effective, and what are the potentials Nepal has on eye treatment. Even the draft for bringing an umbrella act on it was readied,” Minister said, adding that most of the eye patients (65%) were suffering from cataract in Nepal. Nepal has the potential to take a lead in South Asia in eye treatment.
Moreover, even the students from abroad would come to study in Nepal once the Eye University is established here, according to him.
The next meeting of the HoR would be held on August 4.
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Nepali nationals in Iranian jails to return home
Kathmandu, July 25: Five Nepalis in Iranian jails have been released from detention and returned home at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
They were brought to Kathmandu on Thursday with the assistance of the Nepali Honorary Consul in Tehran and the International Organization for Migration after the local court ordered their release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.
It may be noted that during the conflict between Iran and Israel nine Nepali citizens were rescued with the help of the Government of India and repatriated to the country via India.
In course of the conflict that began on June 13 and ceased following a ceasefire between the two sides on June 23, the Ministry had issued travel advisory and notice keeping in mind the rights, interests and security of Nepalis living in both the countries. In addition, details were collected for emergency rescue when and where necessary, adds the Ministry.
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Constitution amendment based on need: NC President Deuba
Kathmandu, July 25: Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said Constitution could be amended based on need.
Constitution is based on pluralism, so it is changed as per demand made over time, President Deuba said while addressing a talk programme on ‘Federal Democratic Republic and Present Constitution’ organized in the federal capital on Friday. “Multiple sectors are voicing for constitution amendment now. Some are for changing the role of Vice President,” he reminded.
Although Nepal’s communist parties behave differently during elections, they are work in alliance with democratic parties other time.
On the occasion, he appreciated the role the late Dhundiraj Shastri played, calling it, instrumental in party and democracy.
Other leaders like Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Bimalendra Nidhi and Arjun Narsing KC remembered the contribution made by the late Shastri in NC’s consolidation, democratic movement and social transformation.
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Government is with the people, says PM Oli
Mahottari, July 25: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the current government is moving forward in the prosperity campaign by overcoming every adversity and is always with the people.
Inaugurating a maternity hospital with state-of-the-art services in Matihani Municipality-6 of Mahottari today, Prime Minister Oli requested everyone to join the journey to prosperity which can achieve success with the active participation of the people at large.
Expressing confidence that the services provided by the newly constructed maternity hospital would contribute to reducing the risks associated with childbirth, he said with the inauguration of the hospital expecting mothers in this area will get relief and the maternal and child-related problems previously prevalent due to lack of treatment will be addressed.
The newly constructed maternity hospital has a delivery room, surgery room, NIC room, OPD room, nursing room, pharmacy, waiting room and investigation room.
Mayor of Matihani Hari Prasad Mandal said that the maternity home was constructed at a cost of Rs 18.8 million with the joint investment of the federal government and Matihani Municipality.
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Will remain active in politics, says former President Bhandari
Kathmandu, July 25: Former President Bidyadevi Bhandari has said that she would serve the nation and the citizens by continuing her affiliation to the CPN (UML).
At a news conference here on Friday, the former President said she had obtained the UML party membership and oath from Madan Bhandari and added that she rejoined the UML after completing the tenure of the President, which she took as per the decision of the UML.
“I was elected to the President through politics. And, will dedicate my remaining life in politics,” she said, adding that “I have no desire, ambition and longing for any position. I have written my name in the history by reaching the top position of the nation.”
She also argued that there was no reason to prevent her from being a member of the party.
A central committee meeting of the CPN (UML) last week decided not to renew Bhandari’s party membership arguing that she should not rejoin the politics.
Bhandari viewed that the UML leaders, cadres and its organizations have deep trust and confidence to the people’s multiparty democracy championed by leader Madan Bhandari adding that the UML achieved success on the same foundation.
The former President added that it was everyone’s responsibility to further unite and strengthen the UML on organizational front and make it sharp on ideological ground.
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Four Nepali athletes to compete in World Aquatics Championships
Kathmandu, July 25: Four swimmers from Nepal are set to compete in the World Aquatics Championships being held in Singapore. Accordingly, a six-member Nepali team, including the four athletes is leaving for Singapore tonight.
The athletes include two male and two female. Of them Irvin Shrestha will compete in the 100 and 200 meters freestyle and Ajalkaji Tamrakar will compete in the 50 meter freestyle and 50 meter butterfly. Among the women, Olympian Duwana Lama will compete in the 200 meters freestyle and 100 meters breaststroke while Arya Maharjan will participate in the 50 and 100 meters freestyle.
Shankar Karki is joing as the Chief swimming coach of the team managed by Bikash Sharma.
The championships that started on July 11 will continue till August 3. Nepali athletes will compete starting July 27, shared Gangalal Gole, Secretary of the Nepal Swimming Association.
Head coach Karki said that the competition would also help in the preparation for the 20th Asian Games, while looking forwards to a good performance from his team members.
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PM Oli inaugurates rural municipality office building
Birgunj, July 25: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has inaugurated an office building of Parbanipur rural municipality of Bara district amidst a programme on Friday.
With the establishment of administrative office building, the service seekers would be delivered service in a convenient manner, PM Oli said. “I request the officials here to win public trust by catering modern services. I’m happy that this building would stand for coming 50 to 100 years.”
The PM further said both the people’s representatives and engineers deserve accolade for building the administrative office. The construction of such building has gained pace across the country, according to him.
On the occasion, Rural Municipality Chair Ramchhatri Prasad Kurmi said they were forced to provide service from a rented building earlier. But with the present new building, it would be easy both for the service providers and seekers to access government facilities, he believed. The construction works had begun five years back.
The undertaking was completed at Rs 32.5 million.
Revolving fund of Rs 500 thousand announced
Meanwhile, PM Oli announced the revolving fund of Rs 500 thousand for the medical treatment of students at a historic gurukul at Matihani-7, Mahottari district on Friday itself.
PM Oli made such announcement while inspecting the oldest gurukul of Nepal, which caters Sanskrit education. It is essential to protect and promote ancient language, Sanskrit, he stressed.
The gurukul said to be set up in 1775BS. The record shows even Balaguru Sadanand took education from this religious school.
Principal Ishwori Paudel informed that although only the boys from Brahmin caste could be students in this Sanskrit school in the past, the boys from all castes are receiving education without discrimination at present.
The batuks recited rudrabhisek in honour of PM Oli.
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No-confidence motion registered against NC PP leader and Chief Minister of Bagmati
Makawanpur, July 25: Majority of the Nepali Congress (NC)’s Bagmati Province Assembly members registered a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister and NC’s parliamentary party (PP) leader Bahadur Singh Lama.
The NC’s Bagmati Province Assembly members registered the no-confidence motion against their own party’s PP leader and Chief Minister Lama.
NC is the largest political party in the Bagmati Province Assembly with 37 seats.
NC province assembly member Indra Bahadur Baniya shared that 21 province assembly members of the NC out of 37 registered the no-confidence motion at the party’s PP office.
Organizing a news conference on Friday, Baniya said the Lama-led government failed to do any remarkable work in the past one year and the development works were not effective and there were issues within and out of the ruling coalition in the budget of the current fiscal year 2082/083.
Meanwhile, four ministers of the NC in the Bagmati province government resigned, Internal Affairs and Law Minister Suraj Chandra Lamichhane said.
Lamichhane said four ministers including himself, Tourism Minister Bimal Thakuri, Cooperative Minister Madhu Kumar Shrestha and Minister for Youth and Sports Min Krishna Maharjan resigned before Chief Minister Lama.
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IOE Secretary General Santos calls on Minister Bhandari
Kathmandu, 25 July: Secretary General of the International Organization of Employers (IOE) Roberto Suarez Santos today paid a courtesy call on Damodar Bhandari, Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies at the Ministry in Singha Durbar.
On the occasion, Minister Bhandari noted that despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and global supply chain challenges, Nepal’s economy is on the path to recovery. He highlighted the leading role of the private sector in Nepal’s economic development and informed that the government is working to create a business and investment-friendly environment in the country.
Discussing investment opportunities in Nepal, he mentioned ongoing policy, legal, and procedural reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment, which have resulted in a steady increase in foreign investment approvals in recent years. Minister Bhandari emphasized that for Nepal to transition from a least developed country by 2029 and achieve sustainable development goals, additional resources, technology, capacity building, and partnerships are essential.
He expressed hope that partnerships between the IOE and Nepal’s private sector would be promoted accordingly, according to his secretariat. Minister Bhandari also requested Secretary General Santos to assist in disseminating information about investment opportunities in Nepal to investors worldwide, as well as to support capacity building for Nepal’s small and medium-sized entrepreneurs and the transfer of modern technology, thereby expanding collaboration with Nepal’s private sector.
Secretary General Santos acknowledged the investment potential in Nepal and expressed that this visit provided an opportunity to better understand the opportunities and challenges arising from Nepal’s graduation from least developed country status. Describing IOE as a global network, he mentioned ongoing initiatives to collaborate in building the capacity of Nepal’s small and medium enterprises. According to Minister Bhandari’s secretariat, the meeting also involved discussions on exploring further collaboration opportunities with Nepal’s private sector in the future and cooperating in disseminating information to expand investment in Nepal.
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