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The air quality of Kathmandu Valley has improved significantly following rainfall for the past few days. According to the latest Air Quality Index (AQI) data, the air quality index of the Valley has dropped to 47 as of 11 am today, which falls in the good or healthy category.

Kathmandu, which was ranked first in the list of the most polluted cities in the world a few weeks ago, has now improved and dropped to 66th position. 

On April 23, the air quality index of the Valley had reached 247, which falls in the 'very unhealthy' category, posing a serious risk to the health of the general public. 

According to Director General of the Department of Environment, Gyan Raj Subedi, dust, smoke and pollution from fires accumulate in the atmosphere when there is no rain for a long time. 

“During the dry season, forest fires increase and the smoke from them gets trapped in the valley, so pollution is high,” he said. “Polluted air coming from neighboring India also affects Kathmandu’s air quality.”

He said that air quality would improve as dust and smoke would be washed away with the rain and the air flow would increase.

The Chitwan National Park (CNP) has, in the first ten months of the current fiscal, recorded the death of six Royal Bengal tigers. 

The latest death was reported on Monday, after a carcass of a male tiger of around two years of age was recovered from the park area. 

CNP information officer Abinash Thapa Magar said that the dead include two male, three female while the gender of the remaining one is yet to be confirmed. 

Among them, two tigers had fought to death while one died of natural causes. Three died after their rescue. 

According to the latest census, the CNP is home to 128 tigers, while the results of this year's census are yet to be released.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 1. 64 points to close at 2, 711. 22 points on Wednesday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 0. 80 points to close at 463. 12 points.

A total of 7,131,557-unit shares of 336 companies were traded for Rs 1. 54 billion.

Meanwhile, Forward Microfinance Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (FOWAD) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 13. 74 percent.

Likewise,  Bhagawati Hydropower Development Company Limited (BGWT) was the top loser as their price fell by 8. 90 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 62 trillion.

A meeting of the Constitutional Council has been called for Thursday. 

As per the direction of the Prime Minister, also the chairperson of the Constitutional Council, the Constitutional Council Secretariat called the meeting for tomorrow to forward the process of appointing Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

The meeting will be held at 5 pm at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Singha Durbar.

Recommendation of appointment of Chief Justice is the main agenda of the meeting.

Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal, National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam, opposition party leader in the House of Representatives Vishmaraj Angdembey and Deputy Speaker Rubi Kumari Thakur have been invited to attend the meeting.

Police have arrested two Indian nationals after seizing 142 kilograms of marijuana from an ambulance at Barahchhetra Municipality-2 in Sunsari on Wednesday. 

SP Keshav Kumar Thebe of the District Police Office, Sunsari said that the suspects have been identified as driver Dharmendra Kumar Yadav (18) and Mohammad Sadam (21) Bihar, India. 

According to police, the contraband was discovered during a security check. 

The government has emerged tough against the trend of enjoying dual facilities from the state coffers. 

In this connection, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers directed the Home Ministry to submit detailed information of the vehicles being used by the former dignitaries today itself.

The information was sought via the Home Ministry after a study conducted by the Prime Minister's Office found that some former dignitaries were still using the vehicles more than prescribed by law or were taking dual facilities from different government bodies.

A strict direction was issued to the Home Ministry to immediately send the records of vehicles used by former dignitaries- former Presidents, former Vice Presidents, former Prime Ministers, former Chief Justices, former Speakers of the House and former Chairmen of the National Assembly. The information could be sent via email within office hours today.

Dipa Dahal, Press and Research Expert to Prime Minister Balendra Shah, said that the government had sought details on vehicles used in a bid to prevent misuse of state funds and maintain good governance. According to her, “The directive aims at identifying the facilities enjoyed beyond the limits set by law and making the system transparent,” she reminded.

At a time when the former VIPs were criticized for misusing the public resources, creating huge dent to State coffers for a long time, the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah is all set to clip the VIPs off splurge and systematize state benefits.

The local authority has banned playing Bhojpuri songs at any social or private events in Birgunj-3 from Wednesday.

A village assembly meeting held under Ward Chairman Manoj Kumar Yadav made the decision to this effect. 

Similarly, the liquor shops in the area have been directed  to close by 8pm while residents have been advised  not to roam around the village after 10pm. 

Yadav warned that anyone violating the directive will be fined adding that going to someone’s function without invitation will be subject to punishment. 

Yadav said that the decision was taken after the villagers were found engaged in brawls under the influence of alcohol. 

In view of recurring obstructions on the BP Highway, especially in the section of Roshi River, the security bodies have urged everyone travelling through this route to be aware of the road condition before travel.

The District Security Committee has already decided to close the highway at night from Tuesday for an indefinite period. The road closure is effective from 5  pm to 5 am. 

This decision came in the wake of rainfall wreaking havoc on Roshi River bank, from where temporary diversion is made to ease the transport. 

The riverside highway was damaged massively two years back, for which a permanent solution is awaited. An 18-km stretch of the BP Highway is currently facing hindrances and sometimes even causing grave threat to passengers on Roshi River bank.

Information Officer  at the District Police Office Deputy Superintendent of Police Rabin Bista said  that the Highway was closed indefinitely from Tuesday during night because the flood in Roshi River was posing a severe threat to passengers and vehicles travelling to and from Kathmandu. 

Two days back, a joint squad of security forces had to conduct a rescue operation at night after five microbuses were trapped in the flooded Roshi River following the rainfall.