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Incidents of human trafficking and smuggling are increasing.

According to the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen, the Nepal Police has rescued 127 victims or affected persons from different places from within the country and abroad in the fiscal year 2024/25.

The 'National Report on Combating Human Trafficking and Smuggling, 2081', made public by the Ministry on Wednesday, stated that a total of 3,490 victims, including 758 through the rehabilitation centers based in 10 districts and 2,732 through different organizations of the same districts were rescued and rehabilitated.

Likewise, the information centers of various organizations located along the Nepal-India border and checkpoints have identified a total of 4,300 individuals as being at risk of human trafficking, with assistance from the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force.

Those vulnerable to human trafficking include 2,766 women (64.3%), 1,436 girls (33.4%), 15 men (0.4%), and 83 boys (1.9%), according to the ministry.

The information centers have provided counseling services against human trafficking and smuggling to a total of 77,500 individuals, shared Ministry spokesperson Chakra Bahadur Budha.

Vehicular movement along the Saljhandi-Dhorpatan road, which was blocked by a landslide, has resumed from today after three days. 

This is a national priority project.

The landslide debris deposited on the road was cleared following two days of continuous efforts.

The landslide triggered by heavy rainfall on Monday evening blocked the road at Dharabot, Dhorpatan Municipality-7. 

After the road was blocked, hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists travelling to Dhorpatan Wildlife Reserve faced difficulties.

Deputy Mayor of Dhorpatan Municipality Dhan Bahadur Kayat said that tourists have now started heading towards their destinations.

He said that it took three days to clear the road due to the sheer size of the landslide in that area.

Besides, he mentioned that the locals have been facing problems in commuting due to the lack of alternative routes.

Meanwhile, the Municipality and the police have urged tourists coming to Dhorpatan to only travel after checking the weather and road conditions.

Indra Jatra, the festival of rain and good harvest, has begun in Bhaktapur district from today.

The eight-day-long festival of religious and cultural significance is observed with much fanfare, especially among the Newar communities in the district.

The festival begins from Bhadra Shukla Dwadashi after a towering wooden pole (lingo) signifying the Lord of rain Indra is installed in every town of Bhaktapur city. The Lingo is called Yambo:Dho in the Nepal Bhasa.

A number of ceremonies are organized during this festival, including Lakhe naach and Pulu Kisi procession. The chariot procession, a major part of the festival, involves pulling of a big chariot of Kumari and two smaller chariots of Ganesh and Bhairab along the thoroughfares of the city.

The tradition has it that the head of the state visits and worships the living goddess Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairab during the festival.

Cultural expert Om Dhaubhadel stated that this festival is being marked to celebrate the victory of the gods over the demons to release Jayanta, the son of Lord Indra.

This festival is also celebrated in Kavrepalanchowk and Dolakha districts.

Indra Jatra, the main day of the festival, falls on Bhadra Shukla Chathurdashi, the fourth day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadra as per the lunar calendar.

Newly-appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Nepal Police Chandra Kuber Khapung was conferred insignia on Thursday.

IGP Khapung was conferred with insignia by Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi amidst a program held at the Home Ministry this morning.

A Cabinet meeting held in Baluwatar on Friday decided to appoint the Additional Inspector General of Nepal Police, Khapung as the Inspector General of Nepal Police.

Khapung is the 32^nd IGP of Nepal Police.