Flood response, political accountability, and public health actions dominated today’s Nepal news.
Politics & Governance
The Speaker convened a meeting of the Parliamentary Procedure Advisory Committee to discuss how a parliamentary special committee will be formed, including its mandate and disaster-management strategy. The discussion is centered on investigating damage from the Bhotekoshi River floods. The meeting is scheduled for Monday at Singhadurbar.
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal departed for New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Prime Minister is set to lead the official delegation, with plans to address the general debate and hold meetings with international officials (including the UN Secretary General). Khanal is expected to return on September 29.
Courts & Accountability
The Gandaki provincial government formed a committee to investigate allegations of bribery linked to bed upgrade approvals at Padma Nursing Home, while a senior official was reassigned after irregularity claims. Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Yuwanidhi Basnet was removed from his post and directed to work from the Chief Minister’s office, as the provincial government also engaged the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority. Upgrade implementation decisions were temporarily suspended pending the inquiry.
Separately, CPN-UML leader Mahesh Basnet criticized the government over the arrest of analyst Bharat Dahal. Basnet alleged the action was driven by Prime Minister Balen Shah’s secretariat and urged authorities to address claims circulating around the arrest. The criticism places attention on transparency regarding arrest circumstances.
Society & Community
Families in Jumla held a mass funeral for 10 people missing after the Bhotekoshi floods using symbolic effigies made from sacred kusha grass. The community cremated the effigies along the Patarasi River, while search efforts continue for others still unaccounted for. Reports indicate that 49 people from Patarasi remain unaccounted for, and 63 of the initial 93 reported are still missing.
In public health, a specialized medical team was dispatched to Baglung to address a dengue outbreak following 1,403 cases reported last year. Led by Dr. Gokarna Dahal, the team is collecting samples and assessing the situation while local hospital monitoring continues (including pest testing at Dhawalagiri Hospital). Authorities also aim to identify the prevailing dengue species to strengthen surveillance in the region.
Additionally, the government announced that insured victims of the Rasuwagadhi flood will not need to wait 12 years to claim insurance benefits. The policy change is intended to speed up compensation for affected people, reducing uncertainty for claimants.
Date: September 21, 2026 (AD) | B.S.: Aswin 05, 2083
Top News
1. संसदीय विशेष समिति गठनबारे छलफल गर्न सभामुखले बोलाए कार्यव्यवस्था परामर्श समिति बैठक (www.ratopati.com)
A parliamentary special committee is being formed to investigate the damage caused by flooding in the Bhotekoshi River. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has called a meeting of the Parliamentary Procedure Advisory Committee to discuss the committee's formation process, mandate, and strategies for disaster management and mitigation. The meeting is scheduled for Monday at the Parliament premises in Singhadurbar.
2. Bhotekoshi flood: Families hold mass funeral for 10 missing people from Jumla using sacred Kusha's effigies (theannapurnaexpress.com)
Families in Patarasi Rural Municipality-5, Jumla district held a mass funeral for 10 individuals missing since the Bhotekoshi floods on August 26, using symbolic effigies made from sacred kusha grass. The victims, who had been working at the Hanku Besi Hydropower project, were cremated along the Patarasi River as the community mourned their loss. Currently, 49 people from Patarasi remain unaccounted for, with search efforts ongoing for the 63 individuals still missing from the initial 93 reported.
3. घुस बार्गेनिङका विषयमा छानबिन गर्न प्रदेश सरकारले पनि बनायो समिति, सचिवको जिम्मेवारी खोसियो (www.ratopati.com)
The Gandaki provincial government has formed a committee to investigate allegations of bribery related to the approval of bed upgrades for Padma Nursing Home. Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Yuwanidhi Basnet has been removed from his position and reassigned to the Chief Minister's office amid claims of irregularities involving the former health minister and other officials. The provincial government has also contacted the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority for further inquiry, and the implementation of decisions regarding hospital upgrades has been temporarily suspended until the investigation concludes.
4. Foreign Minister Khanal leaves for New York to attend 81st UNGA (theannapurnaexpress.com)
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has departed for New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he will engage in high-level meetings and hold bilateral discussions. Prime Minister Balendra Shah will lead the official Nepali delegation, departing on September 22, and is scheduled to address the General Debate on September 24 and meet with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Khanal is expected to return on September 29, while Shah will return on September 26.
5. Mahesh Basnet criticises government over Bharat Dahal’s arrest (english.onlinekhabar.com)
CPN-UML Secretary Mahesh Basnet has criticized the government for the arrest of analyst Bharat Dahal, claiming it was directed by Prime Minister Balen Shah’s secretariat. He challenged the authorities to deny reports from 'Grey Zone' media regarding the circumstances of Dahal's arrest.
6. Specialized medical team dispatched to Baglung to tackle dengue outbreak (theannapurnaexpress.com)
A specialized medical team from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division and the Regional Disease Control Division has been dispatched to Baglung to address a dengue outbreak, following 1,403 cases reported last year. Led by Dr. Gokarna Dahal, the four-member team is collecting samples and assessing the situation, while Dhawalagiri Hospital is monitoring and testing for pests. Efforts are underway to identify the prevalent dengue species and enhance surveillance in the region.
7. जर्मनीमा चान्सलर मर्जको पार्टीलाई धक्का, बर्लिनमा वामपन्थी दल अगाडि (www.onlinekhabar.com)
Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party in Germany faces a setback as leftist parties gain ground in Berlin. This shift indicates a potential change in the political landscape, with implications for future governance.
8. रसुवा बाढीमा बेपत्ता बिमितको दाबी लिन १२ वर्ष पर्खनु नपर्ने (www.onlinekhabar.com)
The government has announced that victims of the Rasuwagadhi flood will not have to wait 12 years to claim insurance benefits. This decision aims to expedite the compensation process for those affected by the disaster.
9. 96 settlements at high risk of floods and landslides in Bajura (risingnepaldaily.com)
Ninety-six settlements in Bajura have been identified as being at high risk for floods and landslides. Local authorities are urged to take preventive measures to mitigate potential disasters in these vulnerable areas.
10. बाढीबाट क्षतिग्रस्त जलविद्युत् आयोजनाको भविष्य के हुन्छ ? (www.onlinekhabar.com)
The future of hydropower projects damaged by flooding in Nepal is uncertain. Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage and considering recovery plans to restore operations and ensure energy supply.
Forex
| Currency Pair | Rate (NPR) |
|---|---|
| USD → NPR | 153.7 |
| CAD → NPR | 109.8 |
| AUD → NPR | 109.51 |
| GBP → NPR | 205.5 |
| JPY → NPR | 9.73 |
Metal Prices (International)
| Metal | Price (USD/oz) | Price (NPR/tola) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | $4354.85 | NPR 251,002.40 |
| Silver | $66.17 | NPR 3,813.87 |
Disclaimer
- Forex rates are sourced from the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
- International gold and silver prices are sourced from swissquote.
- Nepal gold and silver prices are sourced from Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association.
Prices are provided for informational purposes only and may be delayed, or inaccurate.
