Have not quit party, says Lekhraj Bhatta

DHANGADI: Unified CPN-Maoist leader Lekhraj Bhatta on Saturday dismissed media reports that he had quit the party. Talking to journalists at his residence in Attarita, Kailali, Bhatta made it clear that he had registered a not of dissent but had not quit the party. “Media reports that I have severed my ties with the party are baseless,” said Bhatta adding, “Some elements inside and outside the party willing to split the party might have spread such rumours.” Stating that the party had gone out of track, Bhatta said he had registered his dissenting views ‘to save the party from imploding’. On federalism, Bhatta, who is also a former minister, said that promulgation of the new statute without demarcation and naming of the new provinces would invite problem.

14 hurt in bus crash

DAMAULI: As many as 14 passengers were injured after a commuter bus, which was en route to Baglung from Narayanghat, met with an accident at Ghanshikuwa VDC in Tanahun on Saturday. Of the injured, critically injured Rima Devi Subedi, 34, of Narayansthan VDC was immediately rushed to Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, for treatment. Others have been receiving treatment at Damauli Hospital and Ratnahari Hospital. Police said the accident occurred after the bus fell some 15 meters below the road. Police have taken driver Ananda Shrestha, 48, of Dahathum, Syangja under control. Further investigation into the accident is under way, said police.

Households relcoated

KAVRE: As many as 540 households of nine different VDCs in Kavre district have been relocated to safer places after the human settlements were at a high risk of landslips in the aftermath of April 25 earthquake. District Administration Office and District Disaster and Rescue Committee, Kavre, had identified the risky settlements and shifted them to safer areas to avoid possible hazard. DDRC said that temporary have been constructed with Rs 15,000 that had been offered by the government to the tremor victims. The human settlements at Nangregagarche, Pokharichauri, Chyamrangbenshi, Boldephedichhe, Pokharinarayansthan, Shikharaambote, Sishakhani, Chandeni and Mahadevsthan have been shifted to open land of the district. The committee further informed that remaining 99 households would be soon move to safer places.