Author: space4knews

Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal, a proportional representation lawmaker, was unanimously elected as the leader of the parliamentary party of the CPN-UML. Former MP Vasudev Ghimire commented that without party reforms, the party could head towards disintegration. Ghimire had previously issued a statement opposing party chairman KP Sharma Oli’s decision to dissolve parliament. (18 Chaitra, Butwal)

CPN-UML leader Vasudev Ghimire has expressed concerns that the party may be on the path to dissolution if reforms are not undertaken. His remarks were made in response to the unanimous selection of proportional representation MP Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal as the parliamentary party leader. Candidate Suhang Nembang had also filed nomination for the post but withdrew after failing to secure proposers and supporters. Consequently, Thapa was elected unopposed.

Historically, directly elected MPs served as the party leader, but this time the appointment of proportional representation MP Thapa has sparked criticism both inside and outside the party. When Ghimire was mayor of Tilottama Municipality, he had issued a statement on official municipal letterhead opposing party chairman KP Sharma Oli’s decision to dissolve parliament. Additionally, during the public demonstrations on 23 and 24 Bhadra (the Janapradarshan or JN movement), he questioned the government’s role and had supported Ishwor Pokharel’s faction during the party congress.

CPN-UML youth leader Suhang Nembang has urged the party’s well-wishers and young members not to be disheartened. Although Nembang had staked a claim for the parliamentary party leader position, he did not receive support at the last moment. Despite this, he has appealed for perseverance and expressed confidence in strengthening the UML and steering the country toward prosperity.

Kathmandu, 18 Chaitra – Nembang stated, “By addressing the minor weaknesses seen within UML and reflecting on the events of yesterday, I have taken one step forward with the belief that CPN-UML will emerge stronger and progress in the future.” He added, “Sometimes advancing that step may not yield the expected results, but this should not lead to discouragement. The well-wishers and youth of UML should also not lose hope.”

Nembang expressed optimism about taking further steps in the days ahead. “UML will lead the country toward prosperity. It will continue to raise voices for the interests of the nation and its people in a restrained and civilized way. I have only taken one step, and from here onward, I will keep moving forward,” he affirmed.

The Election Commission has decided to initiate the voter registration and update process starting from Chaitra 22. Citizens possessing a National Identity Card number will be able to register their names in the voter registry through the online system, Election Commission Deputy Secretary Narayan Prasad Bhattarai informed.

The Commission has also stated that errors can be corrected, duplicate names removed, and details related to death and migration can be updated online. This process had been halted since Mangsir 6 following the announcement of the House of Representatives elections, 2082.

For Nepali citizens without a National Identity Card number in the system, after submitting an online form through the Commission’s system, they must visit the provincial or district election office with their photo and biometric details including fingerprints. The Commission’s statement emphasizes that tasks such as correcting errors in the voter list, removing duplicate names, and updating death and migration information can be completed through the online platform.

Summary: In Janakpurdham, approximately 9,846 bighas and 12 katthas of land belonging to 25 Guthis have been encroached upon, and the report addressing this issue has not yet been implemented. A task force formed in 2019 prepared a report to protect the monasteries, temples, and public ponds in Janakpurdham, but the recommendations have yet to be put into action. There are increasing demands for the government to take steps to protect and recover these encroached Guthi lands.
18 Chaitra, Janakpurdham.

The majority of Guthi lands are located within the Janakpurdham marketplace area. Many public lands belonging to Guthis, temples, and Kutties have already been encroached on. The remaining public lands are also under threat of encroachment. The protection and preservation of these remaining public lands in Janakpurdham have not been successful. Thousands of encroached Guthi bighas remain unrecovered.

Two decades ago, the government formed a committee to investigate encroachment of Guthi, monastery, temple, and public pond lands in Janakpurdham, which produced a report that remains unimplemented. Under the direction of the then His Majesty’s Government, the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation established a high-level task force led by Bhojraj Ghimire on 26 Shrawan 2062 (2005). The task force’s report concluded that 9,846 bighas and 12 katthas of land belonging to 25 Guthis in Janakpurdham had been encroached upon. The value of these lands has been estimated in billions. The final report also noted that many of these so-called encroached lands had been privatized.

The failure to implement the report has led to the decline of not only the Guthis but also the Janaki Temple and other monasteries, temples, and historic public ponds. According to the report, out of 49 ponds in the municipal area, 5 have completely disappeared, and of the total 82 ponds, approximately 32.8% no longer exist. Many ponds have been filled and replaced with buildings. The land under Janaki Temple has also been found to have been sold unauthorizedly, with mahants of the temple reportedly selling various plots at low prices, according to the report.

In the introduction to the report, coordinator Ghimire expressed hope that the government would implement the task force’s recommendations promptly after submitting the report on 10 Magh 2062 (January 24, 2006). “The suggestions provided in this report are timely and may evolve over time. If implementation is delayed, the importance of the recommendations may change,” he noted. He further added, “I am confident that His Majesty’s Government will move swiftly toward implementing the report’s recommendations.” The report envisioned that with investment through locally proposed religious tourism development programs, Janakpurdham would become a clean, neat, and exemplary municipality within the next ten years. However, two decades have passed since the end of the monarchy and the advent of democracy and a republic, yet the Bhojraj report remains unimplemented.

In Janakpurdham, efforts to free encroached Guthi lands, public lands, ponds, resting places, and to take legal action against encroachers have not succeeded. The government’s failure to implement the report has left citizens disappointed, while land mafias and temple mahants have continued to exploit the situation for years. Advocate Rahul Jha of Janakpurdham states, “Janakpurdham has become the largest Guthi land scandal in the country, with around 9,000 bighas of land encroached.” Two years ago, then Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane promised to take initiative to address Guthi land issues. Now, there are mounting demands for the government to focus on protecting and managing these encroached lands effectively.

March 31, Kathmandu – To target the increasing trend of driving under the influence of intoxicating substances during the daytime, traffic police have intensified their checking operations. Previously, breathalyzer tests were conducted only after around 8 PM, but now regular checks are being carried out during daytime hours as well. SSP Navaraj Adhikari from the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office at Ramshahpath explained that increased complaints prompted the additional focus on daytime breathalyzer screening.

In the most recent checking conducted on Wednesday, 16 drivers were caught. The traffic police brought these drivers along with their vehicles to Ramshahpath and handed them over to the relevant police units for further legal action, according to SSP Adhikari. Earlier, offenders were primarily issued fines, but now they are being taken into custody and formally handed over to authorities. The apprehended drivers include school bus drivers, according to the traffic police. The crackdown has affected drivers of school buses, public buses, and microbuses as well.

At least 18 people have died after a boat carrying illegal migrants sank off the coast of Mugla, Turkey, according to the Turkish Coast Guard. The boat, which had departed from a resort area in Bodrum district, capsized at approximately 6 a.m. local time. The Coast Guard deployed necessary boats and watercraft to the site for rescue operations and continues to search for missing individuals.

On Wednesday, a boat transporting illegal migrants sank off the southwestern province of Mugla’s coast, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 migrants and the rescue of 21 others, the Turkish Coast Guard reported. According to media sources, the boat had left from a resort in Bodrum district and went down around 6 a.m. local time. Upon receiving the distress call, the Coast Guard immediately dispatched appropriate vessels and watercraft to manage the emergency and ongoing rescue efforts. Authorities confirmed that the search and rescue operations for missing persons are continuing without interruption.

March 31, Kathmandu – Fourteen student organizations have united to raise their voices regarding the government’s proposal to abolish student organizations as part of the 100-point agenda on administrative reforms. In a joint statement released on Wednesday, these groups made it clear that Nepal’s student movement has never been the result of anyone’s mercy, favor, or benevolence. The first cabinet meeting under the leadership of Prime Minister Balendra Shah had approved the 100-point agenda on administrative reform, and item number 86 of that agenda drew particular attention from the student organizations.

“Nepal’s student movement has evolved on a foundation of sacrificial struggle, continuously remaining active in support of the nation, nationalism, democracy, social justice, educational reform, and the rights and interests of students,” the statement said. It further highlighted that from the Rana regime to the democratic movements, student organizations have courageously contributed a heroic history.

“Ignoring the historic background of the student movement, the government’s decision to restrict and ban student organizations under the pretext of resolving complex issues in the education sector will not yield positive long-term results,” the joint statement asserted. While acknowledging many problems in the university system, the student organizations called upon the state to conduct comprehensive studies and craft policies and programs based on genuine analysis and solutions.

The statement also criticized the government’s immature and superficial approach of attributing all educational sector problems solely to student organizations. It recalled that the student movement has itself been engaged in timely discussions on its restructuring, and claimed that the results of these efforts are beginning to show. “The right to associate based on ideology is a fundamental right guaranteed by Nepal’s constitution. Imposing restrictions on anyone’s thoughts can contradict democratic values and norms and may violate international human rights standards,” it emphasized.

March 31, Kathmandu — According to data released by the National Emergency Operations Center under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nepal has suffered significant loss of life and property due to lightning strikes over the past 12 years. Senior Hydrologist Rajendra Sharma from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that from 2013 to late February 2026, a total of 3,386 lightning incidents were recorded nationwide. These incidents have resulted in 1,073 fatalities, including 460 men, 303 women, and 312 unidentified victims. Additionally, 3,408 people were injured, comprising 1,317 men and 1,633 women.

The center noted that 4,294 families were affected by lightning strikes. Property losses include complete damage to 104 homes and partial damage to 390 others. Infrastructure-wise, 114 animal shelters were damaged, and 4,849 livestock were affected. Senior Hydrologist Sharma estimated the economic loss from these incidents to be approximately NPR 118,218,260.

Makwanpur district reported the highest number of lightning incidents with 182 cases, where 41 people lost their lives and 75 were injured. Around 300 families were affected there. Other districts recorded include Jhapa with 113, Udayapur with 104, Dailekh with 105, and Morang with 95 incidents. In terms of human casualties, Makwanpur led with 75 deaths, followed by Morang with 42 and Udayapur with 39.

The center also highlighted significant lightning risks in the eastern hilly regions: Khotang recorded 92 events, Sankhuwasabha 86, and Okhaldhunga 76, indicating a persistent hazard in these areas.

In Madhes Province, multiple deaths were reported in districts such as Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, and Parsa. In western Nepal, Rolpa had 91 incidents, Gulmi and Pyuthan each recorded 72, and Achham had 73. Economically, Jhapa suffered the highest damage estimated at around NPR 10.7 million, with Khotang, Udayapur, and Sankhuwasabha also experiencing substantial losses.

Experts have emphasized the importance of raising awareness and adopting protective measures, especially since lightning incidents tend to increase during the monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons.

Analyzing recent data, the annual average number of deaths caused by lightning stands at 67. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, in 2020 there were 248 lightning incidents causing 70 deaths and 248 injuries. In 2021, although the number of incidents reduced to 203, 56 deaths and 179 injuries were recorded. In 2022, there were 290 events with 84 fatalities and 238 injuries. In 2023, 247 incidents accounted for 44 deaths and 228 injuries, while in 2024, from April to mid-March, 416 incidents resulted in 47 deaths and 307 injuries.

What is lightning? According to the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority’s handbook, lightning is a large amount of electrical current flowing from clouds to the ground. When clouds at different heights and with opposite charges approach each other suddenly, a powerful electric discharge occurs. This generates strong electrical waves accompanied by loud thunder and sparks that strike the Earth’s surface, posing a significant risk. Though settlements, vegetation, and geographical features influence the occurrence and risk of lightning, fundamentally it is an accident.

Lightning particularly endangers those working outdoors such as farmers, laborers, and livestock herders. Installing lightning protection technology on tall buildings, schools, hospitals, shopping malls, and infrastructure like electrical and telephone lines can help minimize loss of life and property damage.

18 Chaitra, Kathmandu – Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s statement has commenced today at the District Government Attorney’s Office. According to a police officer from the Kathmandu District Police Office, Lekhak’s testimony began on Tuesday afternoon.

District Court Kathmandu had granted a five-day extension for Lekhak’s statement. On Bhadra 23 and 24, he was questioned concerning his actions during the then Home Minister role amid the Janajati (Janji) movement. The inquiry commission established by the government to investigate the Janajati movement incident had recommended Lekhak for further investigation.

Alongside Lekhak, then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was also recommended for inquiry. Based on this recommendation, both Oli and Lekhak were arrested on Saturday morning.