DAMAULI: Industry Minister Mahesh Basnet on Tuesday spoke of the need to modernise the agricultural sector. “As a huge chunk of the population is engaged in agriculture, modernising it is a must if we are to develop the sector and the country as a whole,” argued the minister while inaugurating the Bilmade-Mulpani-Patane irrigation canal. Basnet informed about the ongoing preparations at his ministry to devise a land-use policy to facilitate the process. He came down heavily upon the haphazard appropriation of farmlands for housing sites.

13 hurt in accident

SIRAHA: Thirteen passengers were injured after a bus met with an accident at Mirchaiya Municipality of Siraha district on Tuesday. The bus from Katari met with the accident after the driver lost control of the vehicle. All the injured have been rushed to Rekha Nursing Home, Mirchaiya, and they are reported to be out of danger said District Police Office. Police have been searching for the absconding bus driver.