South Asian documentary film festival opens in Nepal

Sep 29, 2011, 17:01 GMT
   Kathmandu (dpa) - A four-day South Asian documentary film festival opened Thursday in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu with some of the main themes related to the Afghanistan war, post-conflict Sri Lanka and mass suicides of farmers in India.

   Also to be screened at the 8th edition of Film South Asia were documentaries about the migration of families from Myanmar, labourers in Bangladesh, natural disasters and the status of women in the region.

   The festival opened with Journey to Yarsa, which documents the travels of a family from rural Nepal to the mountains in search of the aphrodisiac caterpillar fungus Yarsagumba.

   "Film South Asia's focus is not just the subcontinent, but the people of South Asian origin all over the world, and the retrospective package reflects this meaning," said Manesh Shrestha, a former festival director.

   Of 400 films received, the organizers selected 36 for screening, said Kanak Mani Dixit, the chairman of the festival.
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Author: Pratibha Tuladhar

Nepal opens 1,700-kilometre Himalaya trekking trail

Sep 28, 2011, 8:53 GMT

Kathmandu - Nepal officially opened its Great Himalaya Trail, one of the longest and highest walking trails in the world, tourism officials said Wednesday.

The trekking route spreads across the Himalayan foothills, cutting across Nepal from Taplejung district in the east to Humla and Darchula districts in the west.

'This is one of the longest trekking routes in the world with its 1,700-kilometre length,' tourism board spokesman Sharad Pradhan said.

The trail has one route across the higher Himalayas, at an altitude of 5,000 metres, and another at around 4,700 metres, according to the Dutch Development Agency, which partnered with the government to develop the trail.

'The trek is expected to be 150 days long, if it's done in phases, as we have divided it into 10 different sections,' tourism board advisor Gyaneshwor Mahato said. 'But for those who attempt the trail in one go, they could finish it in up to 60 days.'

In 2010, American adventurer Sean Burch set a Guinness World Record by completing the Great Himalaya Trail in 49 days, 6 hours 8 minutes.

Fewer than 10 people have attempted the route so far.

On October 2, Dutch couple Han Tijnagel and Elvira Nijkan plan to take on the daunting trail as the first trekkers to attempt it after the official launch.

'We're hoping the launching of this trail will help promote Nepal in a new way among international trekking lovers,' Pradhan said.

'It's a new product, after the popular Everest and the Annapurna Base Camp adventures, and should give new energy to Nepal's trekking industry.'

Trekking in Nepal is a major attraction for tourists, but popular destinations have been limited to the regions of Solukhumbu, Everest, Annapurna and Langtang.

The promoters said the purpose of developing the trail was also to promote socioeconomic benefits to mountain communities.

The Great Himalaya Trail covers 16 districts, ranging from Dolpa that connects with the Tibetan plateau, to Darchula, which borders India.

'The trail passes through areas of rich cultural diversity, while the distribution of flora and fauna is equally diverse along the route,' Mahato said.

'And because it is the only trekking route at such a high altitude, it is very challenging for adventure seekers.'

The adventure has been priced at 3,200 dollars.

Nepali Muslim leader shot dead

  Kathmandu (dpa) - Unidentified gunmen shot dead the leader of a Muslim organization in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Monday, police confirmed.

   Faizan Ahmed, the general secretary of a group calling itself Islamic Association, was shot in a busy street in Kathmandu, minutes after he had walked out of a local mosque.

   Police said he had received six shots to the head and torso.

   A witness speaking on condition of anonymity said he saw two men in raincoats shoot three rounds each before fleeing.

   Ahmed was pronounced dead upon arrival at nearby Bir Hospital.

   Police said the reason for the shooting was not known.

   In the wake of the shooting, Islamic Association has called on the government to guarantee the safety of the Muslim Community in Nepal. Muslims form 3.6 per cent of the 30 million population in Nepal.

   The killing has raised concerns about security in the Himalayan Capital. A Pakistani Embassy officer was shot at in April in Kathmandu in a similar hit and run fashion, while a media industrialist was shot dead in his car last year as he was returning home from the gym.
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Author: Pratibha Tuladhar

Nineteen killed in Nepal air crash

Kathmandu - All 19 people passengers died Sunday in an airplane crash on the outskirts of Nepal's capital Kathmandu, police confirmed.

A 9N-AEK, Beech 1900D twin-otter craft, operated for mountain flights by Buddha Air, crashed at a height of 1,800 metres in Lalitpur district, after it had descended into the Kathmandu valley, according to the Civil Aviation authorities.

Police said 18 died immediately at the crash site, while a Nepali national rescued by locals died en route to a hospital.

Buddha Air confirmed that 10 of the 13 foreigners killed in the crash were Indian nationals. Two American citizens and one Japanese national were also killed in the crash. There were also three Nepali passengers and three Nepali crew members aboard the flight returning from a sightseeing trip over the Himalayas.

Aviation officers said bad weather, heavy fog and low visibility all contributed to the crash. Witness Chiranjibi Acharya told News 24 TV station that the plane had crashed on Kotdanda Hill.

According to airport traffic control officials, radio contact was lost with the plane at 7:30 am (0330 GMT).

The government formed a committee to look into the cause of the crash.

This is the fourth crash in three months in Nepal, where aviation safety is problematic during the monsoon months because of poor visibility and its difficult terrain.

Bomb scare grounds flights at Nepal's international airport

   Kathmandu (dpa) - Flights were grounded at Nepal’s only international airport Sunday, after a bomb scare on an Indian aeroplane, officials said.

   The Spice Jet aircraft was evacuated and flights were suspended for half an hour, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.

   A Nepal Army bomb disposal squad was inspecting the plane.

   Four Spice Jet staff were taken into custody for questioning.

   Spice Jet is a low-cost Indian airline which operates two return flights between New Delhi and Kathmandu daily.
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Author: Pratibha Tuladhar

2ND LEAD: Nineteen killed in Nepal plane crash

Eds: Updates death toll, adds nationalities =

   Kathmandu (dpa) – Nineteen people were killed Sunday in a plane crash on the outskirts of Nepal's capital Kathmandu.

   The plane operated by Buddha Air crashed in Lalitpur district, after it had descended into the Kathmandu valley.

   A crew member who was rescued from the crash site by locals died on the way to hospital.

   Ten out of the 16 foreigners killed were Indian nationals. The identity of five others was yet to be disclosed. There were four Nepali crew members aboard the flight that was returning from a sightseeing trip over the Himalayas.

   Witness Chiranjibi Acharya said the plane had crashed on Kotdanda Hill in the Lalitpur district.

   Air traffic control officials said radio contact was lost with the plane at 7:30 am (0330 GMT).
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Author: Pratibha Tuladhar

1ST LEAD: Plane crashes in Nepal, at least 10 killed

Eds: Adds initial toll of dead, missing; one survivor =

   Kathmandu (dpa) – At least 10 people were killed Sunday in an airplane crash on the outskirts of Nepal's capital Kathmandu, local media reported.

   One person was rescued at the crash site by local residents, and eight others were still missing, according to the state-run Nepal Television.

   Witness Chiranjibi Acharya said the plane had crashed on the Kotdanda Hill in Lalitpur district of the capital. There were three crew members and 16 foreigners aboard the flight that was returning from a sightseeing trip over the Himalayas.

   Airport traffic control officials said radio contact had been lost with the plane at 7:30 am (0330 GMT).
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Author: Pratibha Tuladhar