ITAHARI: Five people died and three others were injured when a cargo truck overturned in Bhokraha Narsingh Rural Municipality, Sunsari on Thursday.

The truck (1Kha 4541), which was transporting marble from Biratnagar to Rajbiraj, lost control and overturned on the roadway, leading to the fatalities of five residents of Barju-1, as reported by the District Police Office, Sunsari.

DSP Chandra Khadka said that the deceased have been identified as 32-year-old Birendra Gurung, 55-year-old Brahmadev Gurung, 50-year-old Tekbahadur Gurung, 28-year-old Nisu Gurung, and 55-year-old Chandra Bahadur Gurung of Barju-1.

There were nine people in the truck: four in the front cab, including the driver, and five in the rear.

The five individuals seated in the back were crushed by the marble and died.

The three injured persons in the cab are currently receiving treatment at Narsingh Home in Biratnagar.

The driver fled the scene after the incident.

The United States says it will suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 countries around the world, as US President Donald Trump’s administration continues its wide-reaching crackdown on immigration. 

The Department of State said on Wednesday that visa processing would be paused for countries “whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates”.

“The freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” it said, adding that the measure would affect “dozens of countries”, including Somalia, Haiti, Iran and Eritrea, Aljazeera reported.

Trump has pursued a hardline, anti-immigration agenda since he returned to office in January 2025, promising to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history.

Over the past year, he has announced curbs to several US visa programmes and drastically slashed the number of planned refugee admissions into the US.

KATHMANDU: A province-level security workshop has successfully concluded, focusing on essential security strategies to ensure the upcoming House of Representatives elections are conducted in a fair and fear-free manner.

The workshop, which commenced in Rupandehi, Lumbini Province on November 25, wrapped up on Tuesday in Janakpur, Madhesh Province.

Jointly organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the federal government and the provincial government, this annual workshop has been a staple for years. This year’s discussions reportedly placed a greater emphasis on internal security and election-specific safety measures.

During the Madhes Province-level security workshop in Janakpur, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal affirmed that the current government is committed to holding the House of Representatives elections on the scheduled date.

As per the Home Minister’s Secretariat, he has directed all four security agencies to ensure the elections are conducted in a clean, fair, and fear-free environment.

The government has rolled out the Integrated Security Plan-2082 to guarantee that the House of Representatives elections, set for March 5, are executed in a clean, fair, and fear-free manner.

In addition, the Election Police Recruitment, Selection, Appointment, and Deployment Procedures, 2082, have been approved and are currently being implemented. Consequently, the Nepal Police is advancing with the selection of 133,980 election police personnel.

For this election, approximately 88,000 personnel from the Nepali Army, 77,000 from the Nepal Police, and around 34,000 from the Armed Police will be deployed. The Nepal Police have categorized 2,845 polling stations as general, 4,442 as sensitive, and 3,680 as highly sensitive, and have established security measures accordingly.

KATHMANDU: Maghe Sankranti or Makar Sankranti is being celebrated throughout the country today. It is observed by taking holy dips in rivers and ponds, worshiping at various temples and savoring delicacies like ghee, yam, Khichadi and sweets such as Chaku and sweets made of sesame and molasses.

According to astrological charts, Makar Sankranti has special significance as the sun starts its ascendancy entering into the northern hemisphere from this day onwards.

On this day, sunlight moves from the Tropic of Capricorn towards the Tropic of Cancer. It is believed that the days get longer and nights shorter from today itself. According to ‘Bhabisya Puran’ and ‘Dharma Sindhu’, religious texts, devotees will get special blessings and will have a robust body if they observe the festival as per the rituals.

Likewise, the Newar community observes the festival by taking ghee, Chaku and remembering departed souls. This festival is called ‘Ghyo Chaku Sallnhu’. The seniors apply mild-hot edible oil to the heads of juniors on this day.

A large number of devotees throng Devghat, Barahchhetra, Ridi, Panauti, Dolalghat and Kankai in Nepal and Prayag and Gangasagar in India to take a holy bath and perform Shraddha.

The festival has significance in view of Ayurveda and medical science as well. Food items that are taken on this day are the sources of a balanced diet which increases the immunity power of the human body. On this day, a festival is organized at the Tilmadhav Narayan Temple in Taumadhi Tole, Bhaktapur, where puja of Deepakankar Buddha is performed.

The Tharu and Magar communities celebrate this festival as Maghi with much fanfare and gaiety. Likewise, the people in the Tarai districts mark the day as the festival of baths known as Nahan.

The government has announced a public holiday on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti/Maghi festival.

KATHMANDU: Gagan Kumar Thapa has been elected unopposed as the President of the Nepali Congress.

Sitaram KC, Coordinator of the Central Election Committee, informed that Thapa was elected unopposed as the party President at the second special convention of the pro-faction currently held in Kathmandu.

“Since Thapa was the only candidate for the president position, I announce that he has been elected unopposed,” said Coordinator KC while announcing the election results.

After being elected to the position of President, addressing leaders, cadres, and well-wishers at the special convention venue, Thapa expressed his determination to make the party one that its members are proud to be part of. “With the trust you have placed in me to take on the responsibility of the presidency, I will not let anyone bow their head down before anyone. I will uphold the dignity of the Nepali Congress party. I will ensure that all members who join this party feel proud to be part of the Nepali Congress.

The party will work to ensure citizens know that Congress is there for them in difficult times,” said  newly elected President Thapa.