Power outage

DHARAN: Acute drinking water shortage was felt here on Sunday because of power failure in the eastern region from Saturday. Devraj Shrestha, the chief of Nepal Drinking Water Corporation-Dharan said the normal water supply would resume after electricity is restored. Meanwhile, a report from Biratnagar said a snag in the power line of Birpur Kataiya of Purniya

in India disrupted the supply in the eastern region. After the Kanchanpur based NEA sub-station was affected by the April 2 storm, the Indian line had supplied power. However, the same line resumed supply in the evening. — HNS

King greets Pope

KATHMANDU: King Gyanendra on Sunday extended felicitations to Pope Benedict XVI on his inauguration of his pontificate, a RSS report said. In a message sent on Sunday, the King wished the Pope success in service to the cause of humanity and peace and expressed confidence that the close and friendly relations between Nepal and the Vatican will be further strengthened. — RSS

Ex-ministers at RCCC

Kathmandu: Six former ministers of the dismissed Sher Bahadur Deuba Cabinet on Sunday presented themselves before the Royal Commission for Corruption Control to provide information regarding the alleged ‘misuse’ of Rs 4 million from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund as Dashain allowance. Former ministers Purna Bahadur Khadka, Hom Nath Dahal, Yuba Raj Gyawali, Dr Mohamad Mohsin, Jogmehar Shrestha and Badri Mandal appeared at the RCCC . —HNS

Tractor kills child

RAJBIRAJ: A tractor crushed a child to death on Mahendra Highway on Sunday. Mahfuj Alam, 10, son of Idrish Miya of Banauli VDC-5 of Saptari met with the accident while crossing the road. He died on way to BP Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, stated a family source. — HNS

Rights panel’s decision

KATHMANDU: The High Level Human Rights Protection Committee headed by Attorney General

Pawan Kumar Ojha on Sunday decided to assist the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to protect the people’s rights. “There should not be confusion about the committee, it will assist the NHRC to protect the rights of the people as per the NHRC Act and the government’s 25-point commitment regarding rights protection,” the committee’ s release said. — HNS

Blast damages buildings

TANAHUN: Three buildings were damaged when a group of unidentified persons exploded a bomb at the regional Agricultural Training Centre, Tanahun, on Sunday. According to acting chief of the centre Bed Kumar Shrestha, the explosion damaged the guest house, training hall and seed storage building. Although the buildings were torched after the blast, the fire engines from Pokhara doused the fire, Shrestha said. — HNS

Two die of snakebite

DANG: Two persons died of snakebite in the district on Saturday. Ram Bahadur, 35, of Satabariya VDC-6 was bitten on Friday but died on Saturday as he could not receive treatment on time. Another unidentified man of Lalmatiya VDC-2 died while undergoing treatment at primary health centre in Lamahi. He was bitten on Friday night, said the district police office. — HNS

Bhojpuri as subject

BARA: Twenty-two primary schools under the Bariyarpur Resource Centre will offer Bhojpuri as optional subject to students from grade I to V. Nepal Bhojpuri Academy, Bara, chairman Ram Prasad Saha said around 8,000 students of Bariyar Resource Centre would get a chance to study Bhojpuri language. — HNS