September 28: Snapshot of today's main news

Kathmandu, September 28 — In this section, we present the key headlines of the day. If you've been busy and missed the news, we’ve got you covered. Here are the highlights.

Calamity update: Death toll reaches 76

The death toll from the ongoing floods and landslides has reached 76, with 72 individuals reported missing and 36 injured, according to the Armed Police Force on Saturday night.

Additionally, Assistant Spokesperson Shailendra Thapa informed physical damage in 195 locations across the country.

In the Kathmandu Valley, rescue operations involving approximately 4,000 personnel, including 23 boats and divers, have successfully evacuated 1,457 people from about 90 sites. Thapa noted that in the valley, there have been 34 deaths, 21 missing persons, and 15 injuries.

In Koshi Province, 853 individuals have been safely rescued, while 152 locations have reported physical damage, with 10 deaths, 9 missing, and 2 injured.

In Madhesh Province, 55 individuals have been safely evacuated in Rautahat and Mahottari, where 10 locations have sustained damage and 1 person is missing.

In Bagmati Province (excluding the valley), 494 individuals have been rescued across Kavre, Sindhuli, Sindhupalchok, Makwanpur, Dolakha, Dhading, and Chitwan. This region has seen 31 locations with physical damage, 29 deaths, 19 injuries, and 39 missing persons.

In Lumbini Province, 2 individuals are reported missing due to flooding in Rupandehi. For search and rescue operations across various districts in Nepal, 10,540 personnel from the Armed Police Force have been mobilized.

Landslide buries bus and microbus in Jhyaple; 14 fatalities reported

Fourteen people have died when a bus and a microbus were buried in the Jhyaple River, which lies on the border between Kathmandu and Dhading.

According to SP Navaraj Adhikari of the Kathmandu District Police Office, five bodies were recovered from the microbus (registration number Lu. 1 Ja 4578) and nine from the bus.

The registration number of the bus has not been disclosed.

A team led by DSP Surya Prasad Subedi from the local police station has been deployed to the scene.

Bodies of six students recovered from landslide debris

Six bodies of students from ANFA Sisneri camp have been found buried under a landslide.

According to the District Police Office Makwanpur, the bodies of the students were retrieved and sent to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in Kathmandu.

Chief District Officer Tirtharaj Chiluwal of Makwanpur stated that the students died when they were attempting to move from their school hostel to a safe location after both gates of the reservoir at the Kulekhani Hydropower Project were opened on Saturday morning, causing a flood.

He confirmed that other students in the camp are safe. Preparations are underway to transport 34 of these safe students to Kathmandu via a helicopter from the Nepal Army.

Saptakoshi river reaches 557,000 cfs, highest since 1968

As the water flow in the SaptaKoshi River increases, water has begun to flow over the bridge.

According to the Sunsari police, while water started flowing over the bridge from Gate18 a while ago, it has now decreased.

The high water flow has caused water to flow over the bridge. All 56 gates of the barrage have been opened.

Traffic for vehicles and pedestrians has been completely restricted at the barrage.

Health Ministry urges free treatment for flood victims at all health institutions

The Ministry of Health and Population has urged all health institutions to provide free treatment to injured patients rescued from the disasters caused by rainfall and flooding. In a statement released on Saturday, spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki requested all provincial health and emergency operation centers to publicize hotline numbers for health-related issues during emergencies.

The statement noted that recent weather changes, including thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, have adversely affected public health across most regions of Nepal and could pose further risks in the future. All health institutions and relevant stakeholders have been advised to remain alert and assist in treatment efforts.

Provincial health emergency centers have been instructed to coordinate with hub and satellite hospitals to keep emergency medical teams prepared, ensuring that rapid response teams at provincial, district, and local levels are ready for action.

Additionally, provincial health emergency centers are tasked with coordinating with health partner organizations and updating resources to ensure emergency services and personnel are available 24/7.

More than 300 await rescue in Roshi

Rescue efforts for around 300 people stranded in the middle of a river near Kaldhunga in Kavre have not yet succeeded. Inspector Krishna Giri of the local police office in Mangaltar informed Ratopati that efforts are ongoing to rescue those trapped between Roshikhola and Bhyakurekhola.

Local residents have indicated that helicopters are needed for the rescue. The dam constructed by the municipality at Kaldhunga has been swept away by the floodwaters of Roshikhola, and eight houses in Kaldhunga have been washed away.

Approximately 3,000 locals rescued from the riverside area of Roshikhola are currently being housed in Mangaltar. Inspector Giri stated that they are being accommodated in three nearby schools.

Government postpones all examinations, closes schools for three days

The government has decided to postpone all examinations. This decision was made during an emergency coordination meeting called by acting Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh on Saturday, as informed by government spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communication Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung.

He mentioned that the government is prioritizing the rescue and relief of citizens affected by the incessant rainfall. Additionally, the meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office decided to provide free medical treatment to those injured in the disaster.

Meanwhile, The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has urged schools to remain closed for three days. Due to the need for emergency management in school buildings, the ministry has requested all local authorities to close schools across the country starting tomorrow.

Laxmi Prasad Bhattarai, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, issued a statement asking local authorities to implement the school closure. The ministry has also requested departmental offices, educational development and coordination units, and universities to coordinate with the University Grants Commission for disaster management and immediate relief support.

Main transmission line disrupted, Kathmandu's power supply affected

Kathmandu's main power supply line has been blocked after the Tamakoshi River washed away Tower 7 of the Khimti-Lamasanghu transmission line. This 132 kV line is crucial for electricity supply, and its disruption is affecting power delivery to the Kathmandu Valley.

Additionally, the Dhalkebar-Pathlaiya transmission line is also down, impacting electricity supply in the western Dhalkebar area.

The Nepal Electricity Authority has stated that supply will be managed on a rotation basis until repairs are complete

Electricity production halted at Upper Tamakoshi due to landslide

The continuous rainfall has caused landslides that have damaged the structures (headworks) of the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project in Dolakha's Bigu Rural Municipality-1, Lamabagar.

Due to the high water flow in the Upper Tamakoshi, electricity production has also been halted, and all gates of the dam have been opened.

Damage has been reported to the control room, the sand-thigging basin (desander), and the canal (culvert) that carries water from the dam to the desander, located just below the dam site on the right side. Significant damage is anticipated to these structures due to landslides from above.

Hezbollah confirms Hassan Nasrallah killed in an Israeli airstrike

Lebanon’s Hezbollah group confirmed on Saturday that its leader and one of its founders, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut the previous day.

A statement said Nasrallah “has joined his fellow martyrs.” Hezbollah vowed to “continue the holy war against the enemy and in support of Palestine.”

Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for more than three decades, is by far the most powerful target to be killed by Israel in weeks of intensified fighting with Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it carried out a precise airstrike on Friday while Hezbollah leadership were meeting at their headquarters in Dahiyeh, south of Beirut.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said six people were killed and 91 injured in the strikes, which leveled six apartment buildings. Ali Karki, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front and other commanders were also killed, the Israeli military said.

At least 43 dead as Helene pummels southeast US

At least 43 people have died and millions left without power on Friday as Hurricane Helene roared through the south-eastern US.

Officials continued daring rescues with boats, helicopters and large vehicles to help those stranded in floodwaters - including about 50 workers and patients who crowded on the roof of a flooded Tennessee hospital.

It was the most powerful storm on record to hit Florida's Big Bend and moved north into Georgia and the Carolinas after making landfall overnight on Thursday.

Insurers and financial institutions say damage caused by the storm could run into the billions of dollars.

Gordon penalty denies man City victory at Newcastle

 Anthony Gordon’s second-half penalty earned Newcastle a point as Manchester City were held to a draw at St James’ Park.

City defender Josko Gvardiol had put the visitors ahead after 35 minutes when he finished smartly from Jack Grealish’s lay-off.

However, while Mateo Kovacic and Rico Lewis combined well in covering for the influential Rodri, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, City eventually buckled during Newcastle’s best spell of the game just after the break.

Chelsea, Everton and Arsenal win, West Ham plays draw

Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer has become the first player in the 32-year history of the Premier League to score four goals in the first half of a match.

The England international’s flurry of goals came in a 20-minute span in Chelsea’s 4-2 win against Brighton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Palmer scored in the 21st, 28th, 31st and 41st minutes, with the haul including a penalty as well as a long-range free kick that completed his hat trick.

No player has ever scored so many goals before halftime in a single match, according to Opta, which provides statistics to the Premier League.

Palmer also had a four-goal haul for Chelsea last season in a 6-0 win over Everton in April, also at home.

The playmaker joined Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in scoring at least three goals in a game three times for Chelsea in the league.