Latest news with #Nepal
Times of Oman
5 hours ago
- Climate
- Times of Oman
Rain in Tibet trigger flood in Nepal, warning issued in three districts
Kathmandu: Downpour in Tibet early Wednesday morning has triggered flood in rivers flowing in Nepal prompting authorities to issue warning in three districts. The district of Rasuwa, adjoining the Tibetan side which was hit by a flash flood on July 8 had claimed lives of 7 with over a dozen still missing, after Lhende River swept infrastructure near Nepal-China border. Heavy rainfall in Tibet earlier this morning has triggered flooding in the Trishuli River, raising water levels in areas around Uttar Gaya in Rasuwa and the Trishuli 3B Hub in Kispang. Authorities have issued warnings as water flow continues to rise in the Rasuwagadhi area. Rasuwa's Assistant Chief District Officer Dhruba Prasad Adhikari has urged "residents living in low-lying coastal areas to remain vigilant," citing the "ongoing flood originating from the Rasuwagadhi region near the Nepal-China border." "The District Disaster Management Committee and local disaster response teams under Uttar Gaya Rural Municipality have been mobilized. The rural municipality and police administration have requested immediate cooperation from the public in adhering to the safety notice," Adhikari told ANI over phone. Similar warning was issued in the Nuwakot and the Dhading District where the Trishuli River has swollen following the flood in Lhende River along the Nepal-China border. The District Administration Office of both the districts has requested the locals living along the coastline to remain vigilant for possible floods. Preliminary assessments by Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology-supported by satellite imagery, local officials from the border area, and geologists had confirmed that the flood originated after a section of long-frozen permafrost suddenly gave way near the river's source, which flows into Nepal via Gosainkunda Rural Municipality-1 on 8 July. Permafrost refers to terrain made of compacted rock, snow, and soil that remains below 0°C year-round. Even light rainfall or increased temperatures can destabilize it, causing sudden floods or landslides. At least four of the river's glacial tributaries originate in Tibet. On the Nepali side, the catchment extends through glacial areas between Langtang Lirung and the Sangbu Ri ridge, reaching as far down as the Dudhkunda Ghattekhola area. The Lhende River joins the Trishuli downstream from the Nepal-China friendship bridge at Rasuwagadhi, which was washed away by the flood. Other glacial tributaries, including the Tibu glacier to the northeast, the Purupe glacier further upstream, and another glacier northwest of Langtang Himal, all contribute to the Lhende. These catchments collectively host at least seven glacial lakes on the Tibetan side, and a smaller one can be seen near Dudhkunda in Nepal. Due to rising global temperatures, these permafrost areas have been receiving consistent rainfall in recent years. The warm precipitation accelerates the melting of permafrost--frozen mixes of snow, sand, and rock--which have remained stable for decades at subzero temperatures.
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
One year old 'wonder boy' wey bite cobra snake to death
Dis one year old boy don turn local celeb afta tori comot say im bite poisonous cobra snake to death for July 24. Little Govind Kumar bin dey play for im family garden for Mohchi Bankatwa for Bihar state India, wey dey close to border wit Nepal wen im see di snake. "Im mama bin dey work for di back garden,' na so im grandma Matisari Devi tok. "E catch di snake and use teeth bite am. We come notice say na cobra snake" na so Govind loose consciousness dat time, im family rush am go local hospital. "Wen we admit di child, im face bin swell up especially im mouth side," na wetin Dr Kumar Saurabh tok. Im be di doctor wey treat Govind for Goment Medical College for Bettiah wey be capital of Bihar. E tok say dat same day im also treat anoda pikin wey cobra snake bite. Say both pikins now dey healthy. Dr Saurabh explain say though di two cases dey harmful to humans, one dey much more dangerous. "Wen cobra bite human, im venom dey enta human bloodstream and cause neurotoxicity wey dey affect our nervous system. Dis fit lead to death," na so e tell BBC. "Wen humun bite cobra, di poison go reach our digestive system. Di human body go neutralize am and di poison go pass through." Na wetin Dr Saurabh tok. E add say e for dey worst if to say di pikin get bleeding points for im digestive tract. India na home to nearly 300 snake species and more dan 60 of dem get venom and cobra dey considered as one of di most dangerous among dem. Dem don mark di kontri as 'di snakebite capital of di world" and di rate of death by snakebites don increase due to di Monsoon season. World Health Organization (WHO) estimate say around 81,000 to 130,000 pipo dey die sake of snake bites worldwide evri year. Between 2000 and 2019, average of 58,000 pipo dey die of snake bites for India per year according to WHO. But di number of deaths wey snakebite cause for di kontri still dey widely underreported sake of lack of access to medical care for areas wia di incidents dey happun, according to India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Red-iculously cute red panda cub born
Bristol Zoo Project have welcomed the pitter patter of tiny paws as a red panda cub has been born. It was welcomed into the world a month ago by first-time parents Neora and Laya. The birth is great news for the endangered species. The super cute cub will spend the next few weeks safely in its nest boxes, but some visitors have been lucky enough to see it being carried around by mum Layla already. Bristol Zoo Project says it's thought there are only around 2,500 red pandas in the wild but the WWF says the exact numbers are unknown but it's less than 10, pandas are usually found in the forests of Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar and their habitat is in decline and they're killed for food, medicine and their fur. They're also more active at night than they are in the day - so if you do go and visit them at a zoo this summer, don't be surprised if they're snoozing in the day!
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
US to resume grants to Nepal for 2 key infrastructure projects
Nepal is one of the world's poorest countries. (EPA images pic) KATHMANDU : The US will resume its funding for two major infrastructure projects in Nepal that were earlier put on hold after president Donald Trump suspended all foreign development assistance, authorities said on Monday. US government aid agency the Millennium Challenge Corporation agreed in 2017 to provide US$500 million to fund a power transmission line and road improvement project in the Himalayan nation, one of the world's poorest countries. But the projects were put on hold after Trump in January ordered a 90-day pause in foreign development assistance on the day he returned to the White House, pending a review of its efficiency and consistency with US foreign policy. A statement from Nepal's finance ministry said the US government had completed the review of the assistance under the MCC Nepal Compact for these projects. 'Information has been received that the implementation of the MCC Nepal Compact has been recommended,' the statement said without providing details. The transmission line was meant to promote power trade between Nepal and neighbouring India. The US embassy in Nepal confirmed the development in a post on its official X handle, adding that the project 'supports prosperity and regional energy security by building electricity transmission infrastructure and improving the road network'. Nepali authorities said the projects will now resume. The finance ministry made no reference to seven other projects in the field of education, health, agriculture and statistics that were also funded by the US agency for international development (Usaid) and were stalled in February. The funding cuts by the Trump administration have effectively shut down Usaid, leading to the firing of thousands of its employees and contractors. The MCC grant sparked street protests in 2022, with Nepal's opposition parties saying it would undermine sovereignty as Kathmandu would not have sufficient control over the projects. Parliament approved the projects the same year by a majority vote.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
US to resume grants to Nepal for two key infrastructure projects
KATHMANDU, July 28 (Reuters) - The United States will resume its funding for two major infrastructure projects in Nepal that were earlier put on hold after President Donald Trump suspended all foreign development assistance, authorities said on Monday. U.S. government aid agency the Millennium Challenge Corporation agreed in 2017 to provide $500 million to fund a power transmission line and road improvement project in the Himalayan nation, one of the world's poorest countries. But the projects were put on hold after Trump in January ordered a 90-day pause in foreign development assistance on the day he returned to the White House, pending a review of its efficiency and consistency with U.S. foreign policy. A statement from Nepal's finance ministry said the U.S. government had completed the review of the assistance under the MCC Nepal Compact for these projects. "Information has been received that the implementation of the MCC Nepal Compact has been recommended," the statement said without providing details. The transmission line was meant to promote power trade between Nepal and neighbouring India. The U.S. embassy in Nepal confirmed the development in a post on its official X handle, adding that the project "supports prosperity and regional energy security by building electricity transmission infrastructure and improving the road network". Nepali authorities said the projects will now resume. The finance ministry made no reference to seven other projects in the field of education, health, agriculture and statistics that were also funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and were stalled in February. The funding cuts by the Trump administration have effectively shut down USAID, leading to the firing of thousands of its employees and contractors. The MCC grant sparked street protests in 2022, with Nepal's opposition parties saying it would undermine sovereignty as Kathmandu would not have sufficient control over the projects. Parliament approved the projects the same year by a majority vote.
