Van hits man to death

KATHMANDU: A mini-truck knocked Parsuram Chaudhary, a cycle retailer, to death near the Thapathali bridge at around 9 pm on Wednesday, eyewitnesses said, adding that Chaudhary was hit while crossing the road. Irate locals barred the police from taking the body away from the spot. They burnt tyres, blocked the road and urged the police to trace the mini-truck at the earliest and take action against the driver. The Kupondole area remained tense till late at night. — HNS

NWPP’s warning

KATHMANDU: A partner of the seven-party alliance, Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (NWPP), has warned that dialogue with the Maoists will not yield any concrete result if the government sat for dialogue without enough preparation and groundwork. A press statement issued by the NWWP on Wednesday said it has no “formal information” on the date and venue of the supposed high-level dialogue with the Maoists. The statement further said since Monday’s seven-party meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence could not reach any conclusion on interim government, arms management and electorate procedures. — HNS

Flood havoc

MAHOTTARI: The swollen Rato river has displaced at least 1,000 families of over 36 villages in Mahottari district. At least 500 houses built along the riverside were reportedly swept away by the river and many houses are on the verge of collapse. Over 400 families living in the Nepal-India border areas, including Parsa Pataili, Suga, Khaira, Maliwara, Dawali, Tharuwahi, Nanhi, Suriyahi and Chauwa villages, have been displaced because of the flooding. —RSS

Jhijhiya festival starts

KALAIYA: Jhijhiya, a festival celebrated in the Terai region, has begun in various villages of this region. After Ghatasthapana, damsels, putting oil-lamp on their heads, roam around villages dancing to the tune of Jhijhiya songs and music. These oil-lamps would be covered by clay-pots (Ghaila) with some holes to pass the air. — RSS

Mishaps kill three

Hetaunda/Siraha: Two youths were killed on the spot when a passenger bus hit the motorbike they were riding at Churiyamai VDC on the Hetauda-Pathalaiya section of the Mahendra highway on Wednesday, police said. Bikash Bhattarai of Shreepur, Birgunj, and Roshan Giri of Jhapa died when the bus bound for Hetaunda from Birgunj rammed their motorbike from behind, the police said. In another accident in Siraha, a woman crossing the Mahendra Highway with her four-year-old son died after she was hit by a passenger bus bound for Kathmandu from Gaighat at Bhulke Chowk this morning. She has been identified as Mandira Rayamajhi, 35, of Badaharamal-5. — HNS

Deaths condoled

Kathmandu: The Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) and Association of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Journalists (ANIJ) on Wednesday expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the 24 people, including noted geographer Dr Harka Gurung, who were killed in a helicopter crash at Phale area of Taplejung district on Saturday. NEFIN, in a press release issued here, appealed to all indigenous nationalities to pay tributes to Dr Gurung, whose body would be kept at the Nepal Academy Kamaladi from 12 to 3:30 pm tomorrow. — HNS

Drive for republic

NEW DELHI: Activists, supporters and well-wishers of the CPN-UML have started a campaign for democratic republic in Nepal. The two-month long campaign, “Migrant Nepalis’ Campaign for a Democratic Republic in Nepal” that was launched here on Sunday will be extended to 25 states of India, in-charge of the CPN-UML for Nepali migrants in India, Chhabi Lal BK, said. — HNS