Submit your Article

An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Sankhuwasabha district on Sunday. 

The tremor occurred at 7: 31 am with its epicenter near Ritak in Bhotkhola Rural Municipality of the district, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, Lainchaur.

Mist is likely during the morning hours in some places of the Tarai region today. 

Likewise, the weather in the mountainous region of the country will be generally cloudy and partly cloudy in the hilly region. The weather in the Tarai region will be mainly fair. 

There is a possibility of light rain and snowfall at a few places in the mountainous region of Koshi, Gandaki, and Bagmati Provinces, and at one or two places in the hilly and mountainous region of Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim Provinces, according to the 24-hour forecast released at 8 am today by the Metrological Forecasting Division.

Tonight, there will be hazy conditions in a few places in the Tarai region. The weather will remain partly cloudy in the mountainous region of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Karnali Provinces, while the weather in the remaining region will be mainly fair. 

There is also a possibility of light rain and snowfall at one or two places in the mountainous regions of Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali Provinces.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Analysis by the Division states that there is partial influence of the westerly winds in the country.

Police today arrested three Indian nationals with 11.27 grams of cannabis from the arrival tunnel gate of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). 

According to Abhi Narayan Kafle, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and Spokesperson of Nepal Police, the arrested ones have been identified as Samina Akhtar Beg Mirza (43), Mohammad Junaid (24) and Afsana Amir Hussain Sheikh.

A joint team of police from the TIA security office and Narcotics Control Bureau apprehended Mohammad Junaid and Samina Akhtar Beg Mirza with approximately 3.87 kg of narcotic substance, informed DIG Kafle. 

Likewise, police nabbed Afsana in possession of 7.4 kg of the illegal substance, he added. 

They  have been handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau for further investigation and legal action, police said.

Air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley is decreasing. 

This afternoon, air pollution has reduced and the air quality index (AQI) has reached 99.

Last Tuesday, the AQI of the valley had reached 191 at 1 pm, whereas on Wednesday at the same time it had fallen to 114.

The Department of Environment said that air pollution level in the Kathmandu Valley has decreased along with the rate of occurrence of wind.

As per the latest AQI, Kathmandu, which was listed as the third most polluted city in the world on Tuesday, has dropped to 18th place today.

At present, Lahore in Pakistan is in first place with 373 AQI, and Kolkata, India is in second place with 186 AQI.

Director General of the Department of Environment, Gyanaraj Subedi, said that air pollution increases during dry weather and decreases during rainfall and windy conditions.

AQI 101–150, highlighted in orange, is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, who may experience health effects.