KATHMANDU: Former King Gyanendra Shah said on Sunday that he would not celebrate his birthday this year. A statement circulated by Phani Pathak, press secretary to the former king, said that he has decided not to celebrate his 69th birthday, which falls on July 7, given the physical and psychological trauma of the survivors of the April 25 earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks. “At this time of grief, sorrow and destruction, I wish from the bottom of my hear that we all join hands for reconstruction and creation of a new Nepal,” read the statement.

Rainfall to continue

KATHMANDU: The monsoon trough is running close to the foothills of the Himalayas and widespread rainfall activity is expected to continue throughout the country for a day or two. According to a special weather bulletin published by the Meteorological Forecasting Division on Sunday, the low pressure area developed over Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal is expected to influence the system and cause rainfall towards evening in the western part of the country. Isolated heavy rain showers have been forecasted at a few places, increasing the risk of landslide and rise in river level in the western part, it said.

Drugs seized

LALITPUR: Police raided a house in Bhanimandal and confiscated a cache of controlled pharmaceutical drugs on Saturday. A joint team of Narcotics Control Bureau and Metropolitan Police Circle, Pulchowk, carried out a raid on the house of Rukmani Shrestha and seized 150 ampules of diazepam, 152 ampules of theragran and 146 ampules of nuphorin and Rs 2,000. Shrestha is absconding and police have launched a manhunt to nab her.