Three houses gutted

Kathmandu: A fire broke out at 3:30 pm on Thursday in three residential buildings in Balkumari Ason. Fire brigades from Kathmandu and Lalitpur rushed to the scene and doused the flames within three hours. There were no casualties. The reason behind the blaze is not known yet. — HNS

One held for assault

KATHMANDU: Policemen at the security check post at Koteshwor on Thursday arrested Arun Dahal (18), a resident of Gaighat Udaypur, after he attempted sword attack on a policeman. He was among the three who tried to rob passengers going out of the Valley. His accomplices, Deepak Kshetry and Dambar Thapa Magar, managed to escape. — HNS

Plea to withdraw bandh

KATHMANDU: The Cardiac Society of Nepal and SAARC Cardiac Society have jointly appealed to the bandh-callers to withdraw the five-day bandh beginning on February 25. The bandh has coincided with the third South Asia SAARC Cardiac Society meet scheduled from February 27 to 29. — HNS

Programme for peace

Kathmandu: The Shanti Andolan Samiti organised a programme during which

lights were lit for peace in Dang. Sudeep Pathak, chief of Human Rights Organisation of Nepal inaugurated the programme. — HNS

Blood donation camp

KATHMANDU: Allumni Association of Arunima HS School on Thursday organised a blood donation programme on the occasion of 54th Democracy Day in Chabahil. Seventy persons donated blood which was handed over to Sahid Gangalal Heart Disease Hospital. — HNS