Three hurt in accident

BARA: Three persons were injured when a motorcycle met with an accident near the Dhansar bridge in Nijghad-9, Bara, along the Mahendra Highway on Friday morning, the police said, identifying the injured as Sumitra Purbachhane, 13, of Bhaktipur-7, Sarlahi, motorcyclist Suresh Shrestha, 33, and Deepak Amatya, 40, of Barahathawa, Sarlahi. — HNS

Chhath celebrated

ITAHARI: Devotees thronged ponds, rivers and lakes of Sunsari on Friday to mark the third day of Chhath festival, which is celebrated by worshipping the rising and setting sun. Areas including the Koshi Barrage, Sunsari Khola, Tengra Khola and Budhi Khola were crowded by worshippers. Koshi Barrage sees the largest number of worshippers in every Chhath festival. Local streams, rivers and ponds were also crowded with devotees. — HNS

Eastern regional fest

ITAHARI: Visitors are pouring in at the Eastern Regional Festival that began here on Tuesday. Business is booming here with the rise in the number of visitors, the organising committee said. Lalit Simkhada of Asterisk Advertising, which is looking after management aspects of the festival, said over Rs 75 lakh has been collected as of Friday. — HNS

FNJ team arrives

MAHENDRANAGAR: A three-member team of the Federation of Nepali Journalists has arrived here on Friday to trace journalist Prakash Thakuri who was abducted from Kanchanpur’s Bhansi four months ago. FNJ central vice chairman DR Pant is leading the team, while central members Purna Basnet and Ramesh Bista are the members. — HNS

YCL frees abductee

BHAIRAHAWA: The YCL released vice-president of the Rupandehi Cricket Organisation and a NC cadre, Som Bahadur Gurung, after taking him captive for two hours on Friday . YCL Rupandehi president Milan said he was abducted for a probe. — HNS