Kathmandu, August 10

Basanta Bhusal of Bajhkateri-3, Gulmi, left behind a bag in a taxi she hired for her journey from Anamnagar to Naikap on February 20.

Simal Rai, 38, the cabbie, returned to Kalanki after he dropped his passenger in Naikap.

As Basanta came to know about the bag forgotten in the taxi, she called the traffic police control room (103) seeking help for retrieval of her lost property. By the time officials at Metropolitan Traffic Police Division were preparing to alert all its units regarding the matter, Rai approached the MTPD to submit the bag that contained gold ornaments worth around Rs 350,000.

The taxi driver proved that honesty counted. Traffic police handed over the bag to Soniya Bhusal, Basantayounger sister, in the presence of Rai. Honest cabbies like Rai are rare in Kathmandu valley.

On June 28, Tondu Sherpa forgot a bag containing Rs 76,000 and some medicines in a taxi while travelling from Maharajgunj-based TU Teaching Hospital to Swoyambhu. He lodged a complaint at MTPD.

Three days later, traffic police traced the taxi on the basis of a CCTV footage and arrested the cabbie. Superintendent of Police Rabi Kumar Poudel, MTPD spokesperson said the cabbie was released with a warning as he had returned the bag intact.

According to MTPD statistics, cases of property missing in taxis are on the rise. As many as 466 cases of property losses were reported in fiscal 2018-19 compared to 184 in fiscal 2014-15, 151 in 2015-16, 286 in 2016-17 and 378 in 2017-18.

Traffic police succeeded in settling 164 cases in fiscal 2014-15, 114 in 2015-16, 239 in 2016-17, 301 in 2017-18 and 325 in 2018-19 by retrieving properties from taxis.

MTPD said investigation into the remaining cases were underway. Passengers lose an array of valuables, including bags containing money, wallets, mobile phone sets and laptops, among other goods, in taxis. An average of one lost case is reported to traffic police every two days.

SP Poudel said that it was not an easy job to trace the taxi and cabbie for retrieval of reportedly lost property when the concerned passenger did not note down the registration number of the cab they hired.

In such cases, investigators largely rely on CCTV camera footage to trace the taxi driver on the basis of facial features of the cabbie as narrated by the passenger.

The authorities suggested that the passengers should take care of their belongings while travelling in taxi and note down its registration number.

The post Cases of valuable missing in taxis on the rise appeared first on The Himalayan Times.

Write comment (100 Comments)

Kathmandu, August 10

Police rounded up three persons, who were allegedly involved in a series of chain snatching cases in Kathmandu valley for the past few years.

Robbery suspects have been identified as Tam Bahadur Sunuwar, 39, of Chapali-7 Budhanilkanta, Talak Bahadur Rayamajhi, 24, of Ramechhap and Devashish Dolahi, 35, of West Bengal, India. Dolahi was an artisan in a jewellery shop at Balkumari, Lalitpur.

A special anti-robbery unit of Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, arrested them from separate places of the valley yesterday.

According to the MPR, they targeted at least 10 women in different places of the valley, mainly in Budhanilkantha, Samakhusi, Tokha, Jawalakhel and Kapan areas, among others, over a period of three months.

Sunuwar and Rayamajhi used a motorcycle to snatch gold necklaces while women were walking along the road in solitary places. As many as seven victims of chain snatching cases have already come into contact with the MPR.

After committing the crime, they used to remould the robbed ornaments with the help of Dolahi and sell them to jewellery shops and individuals at a cheaper price.

Police have also seized Rs 250,000 in cash that they had collected from the sale of snatched ornaments, a motorcycle, a gold chain, a weighing machine and helmets.

Of the arrested, Sunuwar and Rayamaji were repeat offenders. Earlier, they had served three years in jail after being convicted of robbery.

Police said they were searching for other suspects of the criminal racket.

The post Police arrest three chain snatchers from valley appeared first on The Himalayan Times.

Write comment (91 Comments)

Kathmandu, August 10

Epidemiology and Disease Control Division revealed that 11 persons were diagnosed with dengue in the Capital from April 14 to August 9 this year.

The mosquito-borne disease was reported from Kapurdhara, Baneshwor, Saibu, Imadol and Harisiddhi, said Uttam Raj Pyakurel, vector control inspector at EDCD.

The division has warned that Kathmandu valley is at risk of a dengue outbreak as many people migrate to the Capital from dengue-hit areas.

According to Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, five patients — one from Dhading and four from Hetauda — are undergoing treatment in the hospital.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary source of dengue, is also found in the Capital.

&There are a number of patients who migrate to the Capital and this has increased the risk of dengue here,& said Pyakurel.

Kathmandu reported five dengue cases in 2016, which fell to one in 2017 but shot up to 16 in 2018.

&Dengue is asymptomatic in many people. But they are carriers of the virus.

When a mosquito bites such a person, it gets infected and transmits the disease to others. The eggs it lays are also infected,& said Pyakurel.

Controlling dengue has been a challenge as the country has implemented the three-tier government system resulting in confusion as to who will bear the responsibilities in the health sector. Besides, lack of budget is another challenge, said Pyakurel.

The number of people infected by the disease shot up this year largely because of the pre-monsoon, which provided a favourable environment for larvae to develop, said Pyakurel.

Nepal recorded 3,425 dengue cases from April 14 to August 9 this year in 42 districts.

After Dharan, dengue was reported in Rupandehi, Chitwan, Nawalparasi Mahottari, Pokhara and Hetauda, according to EDCD, which recorded 302 dengue cases in fiscal 2014-15, 134 in 2015-16, 1,527 in 2016-17 and 2,111 cases in 2017-18.

The virus is transmitted to humans when the female Aedes aegypti mosquito bites a person. Its peak biting periods are early morning and before dusk.

The symptoms of dengue are high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, pain in muscles and bones, rashes and back pain.

&We need to give information on ways to prevent dengue,& said Anup Bastola, Consultant Tropical Medicine Physician at STIDH. &We should use larvicide to prevent mosquito growth and massive fumigation campaign should be launched to combat the vector-borne disease,& said the doctor.

Many varieties of fish, including mosquito fish and goldfish, eat mosquito larvae.

These can be placed in container habitats such as ponds, and pools where they prey on larvae.


Means of prevention

  • Search and destroy mosquitoes and their breeding areas
  • Keep environment clean
  • Use nets and apply mosquito repellents
  • Wear long sleeves and trousers to cover arms and legs
  • Remove water from flower/plant pots and plates
  • Change water in vases/bowls
  • Recycle or dispose discarded tyres
  • Take medicines only on doctoradvice

The post 11 dengue cases reported in Capital appeared first on The Himalayan Times.

Write comment (90 Comments)