Nepal News Evening Briefing | Monday, October 12, 2026

KATHMANDU: Stay updated with Nepal News’ evening briefing, bringing you the day’s most important developments from Nepal and across the globe. From politics and economy to sports, entertainment, and culture, we deliver a concise roundup of the top news you need to know.

Vice President Yadav Performs Vedic Puja And Hoisting Ceremony For Navaratri

Vice President Ramsahaya Prasad Yadav performed traditional Vedic worship rituals dedicated to Brahmacharini, the second manifestation of Goddess Durga, on the second day of Navaratri at the Office of the Vice President in Lainchaur. Commencing the religious observances at the auspicious hour of 10:07 AM, the Vice President conducted sacred rituals before hoisting the national flag within the administrative precinct. The religious ceremony was attended by high-ranking secretarial officials, specialized advisors, civil administration officers, and commanding representatives from the Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force, following the formal establishment of ritual barley shoots during Ghatasthapana on the preceding day.

PM Balen Underlines Professional Ethics And Technological Innovation At Police Graduation

Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) emphasized that professional integrity, moral rectitude, and strict adherence to constitutional norms represent the foundational pillars of career success for law enforcement officers. Delivering the principal address at the basic inspector graduation ceremony in Maharajgunj, Prime Minister Shah instructed newly commissioned officers to discharge their public safety duties impartially, free from external pressures or partisan bias. He highlighted that leveraging modern information technology is imperative to accelerate crime investigation, ensure objective evidence collection, and enhance investigative transparency, reiterating that the executive government remains fully committed to providing necessary logistical resources and technological infrastructure to modernize the national police institution.

Budhi Gandaki Flood Disrupt Electrical Supply 5,000 Households In Northern Gorkha

Flash floods along the Budhi Gandaki River destroyed local micro-hydropower infrastructure, plunging approximately 5,000 households across northern Gorkha into total darkness and severing regional communication networks. Sirdibas Uhia Micro Hydropower Project Chairman reported that the midnight flash floods swept away 12 electrical poles, distribution lines, and suspension bridges across wards 3 and 6 of Chumanubri Rural Municipality, halting administrative operations across Lokpa, Dungla, Nyak, Filim, Chisapani, and Jagat. Chumanubri Chief Administrative Officer and former vice-chair confirmed that similar devastation crippled electricity distribution across all seven wards of the neighboring Dharche Rural Municipality following severe damage sustained by the Arughat distribution center, while 50 households in Arughat’s Shanti Bazaar also faced prolonged power outages.

Floods, Landslides Disrupt Traffic on Highways in 5 Districts

Floods and landslides have disrupted traffic on major roads in five districts across Gandaki and Bagmati provinces, with several sections restricted to one-way movement, according to updated data released by Nepal Police on Monday morning. In Gorkha, the road connecting Arughat to Dhading and the iron bridge at Soti remain completely blocked following a flood on October 11 that damaged areas of Arughat Rural Municipality. One-way traffic is operating on the Beni-Jomsom road in Myagdi, the Kaligandaki Corridor in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta Purba), the Besisahar-Khangsar road in Manang and the Tribhuvan Highway in Dhading. Heavy vehicles cannot pass through the affected section of the Kaligandaki Corridor.

Prithvi Highway to be Closed from 11pm Today Till 5am Tomorrow

The Prithvi Highway will be closed from 11 pm today until 5 am tomorrow to facilitate road repair works in the Galaundi area of Gajuri Rural Municipality-5, Dhading. Chief District Officer announced that the temporary closure is required to fix damage caused by Trishuli River erosion, which had collapsed the highway on October 9. Although traffic reopened on October 10, further maintenance is required.The national president of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, noted that highway disruptions during Dashain pose severe challenges for passengers and operators. A total of 207,251 passengers left Kathmandu Valley from New Bus Park between October 3 and October 11 for the festival.

Traffic Police Urge Safe Driving as Festive Travel Increases

Traffic police have urged drivers and passengers to follow road safety rules during Dashain and Tihar, warning that increased festive travel could raise accident risks across Kathmandu Valley. Superintendent of Police, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, said awareness activities were being conducted to promote responsible driving and safer journeys. Traffic police are using public announcements at major road and transport hubs to remind people to follow traffic rules. The office has urged drivers not to drive under the influence of alcohol, speed or carry more passengers than a vehicle’s capacity. Drivers have also been advised to check their vehicles before departure and take breaks when tired. Passengers have been asked to board and leave vehicles carefully and avoid placing unnecessary pressure on drivers.

Department Directs Mandatory Festival Allowance For Employees Under Labor Act 2017

The Department of Labor and Occupational Safety has directed private schools, businesses, and industries to distribute mandatory festival allowances to workers in compliance with Section 37 of the Labor Act, 2017. Under the statutory provision, every worker is entitled to an annual festival allowance equivalent to 1 month of their basic salary. On October 9, the department sent official directives to the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Nepalese Industries, and Nepal Chamber of Commerce. Similar communications were dispatched to the Private and Boarding Schools’ Organization Nepal and National Private and Boarding Schools Association Nepal regarding school staff.

LP Gas Industry Association Expands Cylinder Exchange to 11 Locations in Kathmandu

The Nepal LP Gas Industry Association expanded its temporary cooking gas cylinder exchange initiative across 11 designated distribution hubs within the Kathmandu Valley starting Monday, October 12, to alleviate festive supply shortages. Executed in coordination with the Nepal Oil Corporation and the Gas Dealers Federation, the administrative measure enables consumers to exchange empty cylinders of any participating brand for refilled alternatives without incurring supplementary service fees. Operating daily from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM through November 16, the expanded distribution network incorporates newly added exchange points at Chapali Budhanilkantha, Harisiddhi, Kalanki, Khasi Bazar, and Santungal alongside existing locations, following strong public engagement that recorded 3,075 cylinder transactions during its opening day.

Nepal Among Countries Reporting Decline in Multidimensional Poverty, UNDP Report Says

Nepal recorded a significant decline in multidimensional poverty, alongside Egypt and Tajikistan, even as the number of people living in acute poverty worldwide rose to 1.2 billion, according to a 2026 report by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the University of Oxford. The report, released Monday, said global multidimensional poverty increased by 51.5 million people from the previous year, marking the first rise in the index since its launch in 2010. More than half of those living in acute poverty are children. The index measures deprivation in housing, sanitation, electricity, cooking fuel, nutrition and education, not income alone. The report said population growth was the main driver of the global increase, while 33 countries halved their multidimensional poverty rates over the past 15 years. The report also highlighted rapid progress in poverty reduction in China and India, Nepal’s neighboring countries, while noting that most of the world’s poor continue to live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Home Minister Departs For New Delhi To Attend BIMSTEC Ministerial Conference

Minister for Home Affairs Sudhan Gurung departed for New Delhi, India, on Monday to lead the national delegation attending the ministerial meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation scheduled for October 13. The high-level regional conference brings together interior ministers from Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand to deliberate on core security agendas centered around counter-terrorism and transnational crime suppression. During his official diplomatic visit, marking his first foreign travel assignment since assuming office, Minister Gurung is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart before returning to Kathmandu on October 14.

Health Minister Affirms Government Commitment To Strengthen Accessible Mental Healthcare

Minister for Health and Food Cleanliness Nisha Mehta affirmed that the government remains fully committed to establishing robust, high-quality, accessible, and patient-friendly mental health services across the national healthcare system. Speaking at a special observance commemorating World Mental Health Day 2026 in Kathmandu, Minister Mehta stated that state policy prioritizes ending the social stigma and marginalization experienced by individuals seeking mental health treatment. She announced that a comprehensive mental health conceptual framework has successfully passed through the Council of Ministers to serve as the statutory foundation for upcoming legislative enactments, ensuring early clinical interventions and mandatory psychiatric bed allocations across hospitals exceeding 100 beds.

Law Minister Pledges Legal Reforms To Establish Transparent Environment

Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam stated that legislative amendments are actively advancing to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and establish a transparent, investor-friendly economic environment. Addressing the 35th annual general meeting of the Chitwan Chamber of Industries, Minister Gautam explained that administrative delays stem primarily from statutory ambiguities, which the government is systematically resolving following extensive stakeholder workshops. While acknowledging the urgency expressed by industrial leaders regarding post-disaster economic recovery along the Bhote Koshi corridor, she emphasized that thorough legislative preparation is essential to prevent adverse socioeconomic repercussions, noting that comprehensive lawmaking processes require structured deliberation across all institutional tiers.

IGP Karki Emphasizes Professional Accountability At Police Inspector Graduation Ceremony

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Bahadur Karki declared that law enforcement personnel entrusted with public safety must never abuse their official authority, warning that personal interests and improper external influences severely damage the institutional reputation of the police force. Addressing the passing-out parade of the 184th batch of basic police inspector trainees at the National Police Academy in Maharajgunj on Monday, Inspector General Karki emphasized that police leadership must be demonstrated through personal example rather than mere administrative orders. Prime Minister Balendra Shah attended the graduation ceremony as chief guest, presenting the prestigious Kulananda Bidyaparah award to outstanding trainee Chop Bahadur Denga, while Chief Secretary Govinda Bahadur Karki distributed awards to top-performing officers across specialized training categories, including Gopal Rai, Ramkumar Jiti, Bikash Kumar Dhami, Vishal Poudel, and Balkrishna Pokharel, following the formal swearing-in of 79 newly commissioned inspectors.

Parliamentary Committee Questions Ambassador-Designate On Nepal-China Relations