- Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Gaighat (Udayapur), June 29: A herd of wild elephants has entered the Kumang Lamachaur region of Chaudandigadhi Municipality-7, creating a significant commotion.
Ganesh Bam, the Information Officer at the District Police Office, shared that the elephants arrived in Kumang last night, leaving behind a path of devastation, which included the destruction of six houses.
According to the police, the elephants targeted wooden homes with thatched roofs belonging to local residents, including Buddhhiman Rai, Radha BK, Roshan BK, Bam Bahadur BK, Bir Bahadur Magar, Dil Bahadur Magar, and others. Local resident Pushpa Rai shared that when the elephants invaded the village at night, the locals had to flee to save themselves. In response, Chaudandigadhi Municipality has set up a safe area for those whose homes were damaged by the elephants. It’s believed that this group of elephants came from the Koshitappu area and is currently roaming the forests near Lamachauri and 45 Chowk.
Officer Bam mentioned that a police team has been deployed to ensure the safety of the villagers.
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01- Gandaki Province Assembly approves Appropriation Bill
Gandaki, June 29: The Gandaki province government’s appropriation bill for the fiscal year 2083/84 has been passed with a majority vote. The bill, introduced by Economic Affairs Minister Jit Bahadur Sherchan, received approval during the Provincial Assembly meeting held on Sunday.
After a thorough discussion regarding the budget’s ministerial allocations, the bill was passed. On June 15, Minister Sherchan unveiled a budget totaling Rs 32 billion 990 million. During the meeting, Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey assured everyone that there would be no shortage of resources for implementing the budget in the upcoming fiscal year 2083-84.
He emphasized that the government has crafted a realistic and actionable budget. “We have ensured that resources are in place; there will be no lack of resources for implementation,” Chief Minister Pandey stated.
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02- Weather update: Light to moderate rain expected in various locations
Kathmandu, June 29: The monsoon winds continue to influence several regions throughout the country. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Meteorological Forecasting Division, indicates that the monsoon winds are currently impacting the entire Koshi, Madhes, and Bagmati Provinces, along with certain areas in Gandaki Province and a few locations in eastern Lumbini Province.
In contrast, other regions are experiencing a combination of westerly and local winds. Over the next few days, the monsoon is anticipated to extend to the remaining areas of Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces, as well as Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces.
The department observes that it is generally overcast in Koshi and Madhes provinces, as well as in the hilly and Himalayan regions, while the Terai areas are partly cloudy. Currently, light to moderate rain is occurring in several locations across Koshi, Bagmati, and Lumbini provinces, with additional rainfall reported in Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim provinces.
This afternoon, the forecast predicts that it will remain predominantly cloudy nationwide. Moderate rain and snowfall, accompanied by thunder and lightning, are expected in many hilly and Himalayan areas of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces, as well as in some hilly regions of Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim provinces.
The Terai regions may also witness moderate rain with thunder and lightning. There is a possibility of heavy rain in one or two areas in the hilly and Terai regions of Koshi Province, along with potential windstorms in parts of the Terai in both Koshi and Madhes Provinces. Tonight, mostly cloudy skies are anticipated across the country.
Now, Kathmandu valley is experiencing moderate rainfall.
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03- Man trapped in Tinau River rescued
Siddharthnagar (Bhairawa), June 29: A 31-year-old man, Gorakh Bahadur BK was successfully saved from the floodwaters of Tinau River in Butwal on Sunday.
The rescue operation was launched by local police and the Armed Police Force unit after BK was reported missing.
BK, who hails from Malika Rural Municipality in Gulmi and is currently living in Butwal, found himself trapped while gathering firewood from the river due to a sudden surge in water levels caused by rainfall in the Palpa and Butwal areas.
Authorities have issued a public warning, advising against approaching rivers for activities such as firewood collection or swimming, particularly during the rainy season when water levels can rise unexpectedly.
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05- National paddy day being observed across nation today
Kathmandu, June 29: The 23rd Paddy Day, celebrated annually on Asar 15 (as per lunar calendar), is a significant cultural event in Nepal, marked by farmers working in the fields and consuming yogurt to regain strength.
This day, known as ‘Asar 15’, is not only a time for agricultural activities but also a festive occasion for all Nepalis, who partake in eating Dahi Chiura. Yogurt holds a prominent place in Nepali culture, often used in auspicious rituals, such as applying curd akshata on the forehead before important endeavors. The cultural significance of yogurt extends beyond tradition; it is recognized for its health benefits. Historical references suggest that Guru Gorakhnath prophesied the strength of Nepal’s unifier, Prithvi Narayan Shah, would be enhanced by consuming curd.
Similarly, Ayurvedic practices endorse yogurt for its digestive properties and its effectiveness in treating ailments like diarrhea, reinforcing its role in daily life and health. The establishment of National Paddy Day further emphasizes the importance of agriculture in Nepal, where the majority of the population relies on farming. During this month, farmers engage in planting rice while enjoying folk songs, creating a vibrant atmosphere in the fields.
Thus, Asar 15 has evolved into a national cultural festival, celebrating both agricultural heritage and the communal joy associated with it.
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06- President Paudel extends best wishes on National Paddy Day
Kathmandu, June 29: President Ramchandra Paudel has underscored the critical need for agricultural modernization to address the increasing issue of uncultivated land in the country.
While extending the best wishes on the occasion of the 23rd National Paddy Day today, the Head of the State expressed his hopes for the well-being of farmers and emphasized that modernizing agriculture is vital for retaining the workforce that often migrates abroad.
He advocated for transforming agriculture into a more attractive profession and reducing the dependency on imported rice. The President called for a shift in perspective, urging that agriculture should not only be seen as a means of survival but also as a commercial opportunity. He highlighted the importance of achieving self-sufficiency in paddy production and encouraged relevant authorities to focus on this goal. The celebration of National Paddy Day, which has been observed since 2061 BS, aims to promote paddy production through modernization and commercialization, with this year’s theme centered on ‘Climate Friendly Technology, Self-Reliance in Paddy, and Prosperity.’
President Paudel noted the deep connection between the Nepalese lifestyle and agriculture, advocating for increased awareness among farmers and stakeholders to enhance paddy production and productivity. He also referenced the constitutional guarantee of the right to food for all citizens, emphasizing the need for agricultural resources and fair pricing to protect against food scarcity.
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07- Bharatpur Hospital achieves highest scores in federal hospital rankings
Chitwan, June 29: Bharatpur Hospital has stood out in the realm of Minimum Service Standards (MSS). According to the recent monitoring and evaluation by the Quality Measurement and Regulation Division of the Ministry of Health and Food Safety, Bharatpur Hospital has claimed the top spot among federal hospitals nationwide with a remarkable score of 89 points.
Following closely is the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan with 77 points, and the Pokhara Institute of Health Sciences comes in third place with 71 points, while Patan Hospital is still undergoing assessment.
Dr. Shriram Tiwari, Coordinator of the Quality Measurement and Regulation Division, noted that Bharatpur Hospital excels in service delivery among 14 federal hospitals across the country.
The Ministry has developed and tested a whopping 1,497 different indicators to measure the quality of hospital services. Last year, Bharatpur Hospital was already leading with a score of 88 marks.
Chief Medical Superintendent Dr. Bishwa Bandhu Bagale expressed pride in the hospital’s performance this fiscal year, stating that they have improved the quality of their services even further compared to the previous year.
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08- Kalikot declared as district achieving full immunization status
Manma (Kalikot), June 29: Kalikot district has been declared fully vaccinated and vaccination sustainable district. The district was announced as achieving this status on Sunday after all the nine local levels of the district were declared fully vaccinated and sustainable.
Dr. Ratnabir Sunar, member secretary of the District Vaccination Coordination Committee and Health Services Manager, said that the district has been declared as achieving full-vaccination status after ensuring that all children from birth to under five years old across the district received nine types of vaccination, the pregnant women were administered one and one for adolescent girls.
The district has been declared the third district in Karnali Province to achieve full vaccination status, under the slogan – ‘Using local resources, ownership, and participation to ensure full vaccination is our commitment’.
“This has been possible because of the contribution of female health volunteers, healthcare workers, and the local government,” he said.
Katak Bahadur Mahat, the vaccine focal person at the Health Service Office in Kalikot, said that there is a provision requiring that children from birth to 15 months should have received the vaccines listed in the immunization schedule to protect them from various diseases. There is also a provision to ensure full vaccination for children aged 16 to 59 months who missed any vaccines for some reason by tracking them through the local health office and completing all doses through search and vaccination campaigns.
“The target was to vaccinate 3,636 children. After completing that work, the district has been declared fully vaccinated and sustainable,” he added.
Om Prasad Paudel, Public Health Officer of the Karnali Province Vaccine Coordination Committee, said that after Dailekh and Surkhet, Kalikot has become the third district in the province to ensure full vaccination.
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09- Finance Minister directs SEBON Chair to prioritize investor protection, market reform
Kathmandu, June 29: Minister for Finance, Dr Swarnim Wagle, administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed Chairman of the Nepal Securities Board (SEBON), Gopal Prasad Bhatta today.
Following the oath-taking ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance in Singha Durbar, Minister Wagle instructed the newly appointed SEBON Chief Bhatta to work with integrity to safeguard investors’ interests and ensure the security of their investments in the capital market.
It may be noted that Bhatta was appointed to helm SEBON, the regulator of securities market, by the cabinet meeting convened on June 19.
Minister Wagle, on the occasion, stressed that the new leadership of SEBON should pay attention to strengthening capital mobilization and support the country’s economic growth through an efficient and trustworthy securities market.
“Protect investors’ investments without yielding to any influence or personal interest,” the Minister urged, pledging full support from the government.
He reiterated that the new leadership should create an environment conducive to economic growth through effective capital mobilization.
Furthermore, Finance Minister Wagle asked Bhatta to submit action plans for capital market reforms with clear timelines-covering daily, weekly, six-months and annual targets.
Expressing concern over the false and unnecessary rumours doing rounds in the market to terrorize small investors, the Minister called for measures to restore confidence in them.
He underscored the importance of implementing capital market reform plans within a fixed timeframe and saw the need for further strengthening confidence among the investors.
He also viewed that the SEBON as a regulatory body should perform its regulatory duty effectively.
The Minister assured the newly appointed Chairperson that there will not be any interference from the Ministry and encouraged the new leadership to deliver results.
He also sought weekly market briefing from new SEBON Chairperson.
On the occasion, SEBON Chairperson Bhatta reaffirmed his commitment to discharge his duty with integrity in line with the government’s priorities and need of the country’s capital market.
He also pledged to exploit his knowledge, experience and skills to protect investors’ interest and contribute to the government’s agendas for economic progress.
The SEBON chairperson also vowed to work for effective implementation of various recommendations and studies conducted at different times for capital market reform to strengthen and promote the capital market.
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10- Agriculture Minister stresses on self-reliance in rice by overcoming climate change issues
Kathmandu, June 29: Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment, Geeta Chaudhary, has said that use of modern technology, research, and collaboration among all stakeholders is essential for facing the challenge of climate change and achieving self-reliance in rice production.
Issuing a message of best wishes on the occasion of the 23rd National Paddy Day and Paddy Plantation Festival, 2083, Minister Chaudhary mentioned that this year’s slogan ‘Climate-Friendly Technology, Self-Reliance in Rice, and Prosperity’ addresses the current needs and challenges of the agricultural sector.
She said that rice is not only the staple food crop for Nepalis but also an important crop connected with religion, culture, and traditions. The Agriculture Minister noted that conserving, improving, and using local and wild rice varieties would make a significant contribution to biodiversity, climate resilience, and long-term food security.
Minister Chaudhary suggested expanding the area of cultivation of the monsoon and spring paddy, developing improved varieties of rice, technology transfer, expansion of irrigation facilities, and easy access to means of production and ensuring a decent price for rice to reduce the import of paddy and rice.
She also mentioned that special emphasis should be given to identifying, collecting, conserving local and wild rice varieties, and developing climate-friendly varieties.
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11- Lawmakers’ delivery and conduct under scrutiny of public: Speaker Aryal
Kathmandu, June 29: Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Dol Prasad Aryal, stressed that parliamentarians should become more responsible in discharging their duties, stating that voters and public are closely keeping an eye on their works, conduct and demeanor through various mediums.
The Speaker said so while addressing the inaugural session of the two-day orientation programme organized by the Federal Parliament Secretariat for all 275 members of HoR here today.
Speaker Aryal also advised elected people’s representatives to take cognizance of past good practices in lawmaking and learn from them.
He also suggested the lawmakers elected through the election on March 5 this year remain studious and technology-friendly.
“At present, there are many new lawmakers elected to the House of Representatives. This programme has been organized to further deepen their understanding of parliamentary procedures and thereby making their works more effective,” Aryal explained.
He expressed his confidence that this learning process would be productive in enabling the HoR members become more proficient in parliamentary practices and procedures.
“Since they are elected by the people,” the Speaker argued, “lawmakers transition from private citizens to public figures and therefore they must conduct themselves with a stronger sense of responsibility and accountability.”
Likewise, Padma Prasad Pandey, Secretary General of the Federal Parliament, informed that the programme was organized to impart knowledge on parliamentary procedures and legislative processes on the lawmakers.
The orientation programme is being held at the Parliament Building in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu.
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