JHAPA: Different organisations have protested after District Development Committee Jhapa banned mining in rivers of the district. The DDC decided to ban extraction of stones and sand from rivers from June 16 to conserve the environment of the Chure area. Stones and sand were extracted at Mechi, Ninda, Hadiya, Biring, Tangting, Ratuwa and Mawa rivers. Nepal Construction Labour Union, Jhapa Unit Committee Chairman Ram Bahadur Rai said 4,000 labourers have been unemployed. He demanded that the government rethink the decision. Eastern Nepal Tractor Association Mechi Chair Santosh Meche said 4,000 tractor drivers of Jhapa and Ilam had lost their jobs due to the ban.

One killed in accident

DHADING: At least one youth died leaving another injured when a truck hit the motorbike they were riding at Bhumesthan, Simle of Dhading along Prithvi Highway on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as Rabindra Bhujel, 21, of Mankhu, Goganpani VDC of Dhading, said Inspector Hemanta Bhandari Chhetri. The body has been kept at Gajuri Primary Health Centre. The injured has not been identified yet, said police. He was referred to Kathmandu for further treatment. The locals had obstructed the road for some time after the accident. The truck driver was detained in Galchhi.

Youth drowns

JHAPA: A youth died after he drowned in Kankai River in Jhapa on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as Dil Bar Alam, 15. The incident occurred while the youth was collecting firewood. Though, Alam was rescued by locals two kilometres away from the incident site, he died in the course of treatment at Birta City Hospital, said police.