Kathmandu, April 14: A total of 84 mountaineering teams have obtained permits till April 13 to climb mountains and peaks in Nepal this spring season. These expedition teams have 689 members. Through the issue of mountain climbing permits, the government collected royalty of over Rs 373 million. The expedition teams obtaining permissions for 19 mountains and peaks including the Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) comprise people from different 65 countries including Nepal. Of them, 250 members: 194 males and 56 females) from 45 countries will be attempting to scale the world's tallest peak. The royalty collection so far from the permission to climb Everest this season is calculated at over Rs 310 million. It may be noted that the 2021's spring season witnessed the ever-highest expedition teams (45) for Everest. The Department of Tourism (DoT) hopes that the number of mountain expedition teams will climb this year too as mountain tourism is vibrant after the COVID-19 crisis and the climate is favourable for the climbing. Tourism entrepreneurs say they are somehow enthusiastic to see the atmosphere suggesting good indicators in the tourism sector with the slowing down of COVID-19 infection risk. Outgoing chair of Nepal Mountaineering Association and noted tourism entrepreneur Aang Chhiring Sherpa said, "Though a lesser number of climbers this year relative to the previous year, it seems Nepal's mountain tourism is attracting more foreign climbers and it is indeed noteworthy. The number is gradually rising." How many climbers climbing which peak Both Nepali and foreign climbers are continuously setting out for this season's expedition to Mt Everest after taking the climbing permit. So far 250 climbers belonging to 31 expedition teams have alone acquired permission for climbing Mt Everest (8848.86 metres). Similarly, 64 climbers of nine expedition teams have acquired permission to climb Mt Lhotse (8516 metres), 65 climbers from six teams have taken permission for climbing Mt Amadablam (6814 metres) and 38 mountaineers of five expedition teams have got permission to climb Mt Kanchanjangha (8586 metres). Likewise, 38 mountaineers belonging to five groups have taken permission for climbing Mt Nuptse (7855 metres), 26 climbers of four groups have acquired permission to climb Mt Annapurna (8091 metres), two expedition teams have taken permission for climbing Mt Dhaulagiri (8167 metres), two teams for climbing Milung Chuli, and three mountaineering teams for climbing Bhemdong, Gangapurna and Thapa Peak, the Mountaineering Section of the DoT stated in a press release.
Chitwan, April 15: 360 people lost their lives in road accidents in Bagmati Province last year. According to the Bagmati Province Traffic Police Office, such a number of people lost their lives in 10 districts except for Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. Chief of the Office, Superintendent of Police Sushil Singh Rathore, said that a total of 1,647 accidents occurred where 360 people were killed. Similarly, 3,389 people were injured in the accidents. Of them, 869 were critically injured and 2,520 suffered minor injuries, according to the Office. A total of 34 people were killed in 135 accidents from April 14-May 14, 2021, 19 in 87 accidents from May 15-June 14, 2021 and 18 people in 123 accidents from June 15-July 15, 2021. According to the Office, 24 people lost their lives in 150 accidents from July 16-August 16, 2021, 22 in 118 accidents from August 17-September 16, 2021, 36 in 158 accidents from September 17 to October 17, 2021, 41 in 163 accidents from October 18-November 16, 2021, and 35 in 155 accidents from November 17-December 15, 2021. Likewise, 31 people were killed in 114 road accidents from December 16, 2021-January 14, 2022, 34 in 122 accidents from January 15-February 12, 2022, 34 in 175b accidents from February 13-March 14, 2022 and 32 in 147 accidents from March 15-April 13, 2022. A total of 2,407 vehicles met with accidents in Bagmati Province in a year. Rathore said that most of the accidents took place due to overs peed and road conditions. The Office has accelerated different activities like public awareness to reduce road accidents, he added.
Morang, April 13: CPN (UML) Chair KP Sharma Oli has said that his party is capable of providing stability to the country's democracy. He said this while addressing an extensive party assembly organized by the UML Biratnagar Metropolitan Committee here today. He said the party is making efforts for bringing all Nepalis of various linguistic communities and living in different geographical regions in the great campaign of consolidating the federal republic and vesting the sovereignty in the people through a common movement of all Nepalis. The former Prime Minister stressed that Nepal's water should be used for the benefit of Nepalis. Calling on the industrialists and businessmen to make the country self-reliant by setting up tourism and export-oriented industries, he said the UML would extend its full cooperation in this. The UML Chair expressed the determination to thwart any efforts by any quarters to push the country towards instability, stating that the people will not accept the conspiracy to render the local levels without people's representatives. He said works on upgrading the Hulaki highway and the East-West highway were expedited and various airports were expanded for the operation of night flights when he was the prime minister. The main opposition party leader accused the ruling five-party alliance of ruining the country's economy. On the occasion, party Chair Oli welcomed people who quit various parties and joined the UML.
Kathmandu, April 13: Former Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Khil Raj Regmi has underscored focusing all efforts on bringing peace, happiness and prosperity to people as these are the main goals of the State. He stated this in a message of best wishes to all the Nepali sisters and brothers on the occasion of the Nepali New Year 2079 BS which starts tomorrow. Former Chairman of the Council of Ministers said it is also the time to review to what extent we have been centred towards these goals. "We Nepalis who have harboured the aspirations for becoming prosperous from the economic, social and cultural aspects since long are consistently struggling for a happier life. Many sectors including the Executive, the Judiciary and the parliament are heading towards a situation of disarray as we have politically reached a disoriented state of affairs," he said. The former Chief Justice called on the political parties to field capable people with integrity as their candidates in the upcoming local level elections since it can be considered the prototype of direct democracy. Likewise, he has also called on the political parties, the political leadership and the people the to improve the economy and to adopt the right policy and course of action for achieving political stability, development and prosperity.