No party likely to win in first round election Wednesday

Kathmandu, 20 July: No party is likely to muster the required majority 300 votes in the first round of elections to win the vote for prime minister Wednesday.
Voting starts at 11 in the morning
UCPN (Maoist), NC and UML don’t have an absolute majority in the 599-mmeber parliament.
They have 238, 114 and 109 votes respectively.
Chairman Prachanda, Ram Chandra Paudel and Jhanal Khanal filed their nominations for the elections.
UML decided to contest elections breaking an alliance with the NC while Maoists didn’t support Khanal’s candidacy.
UML said it won’t participate in the vote if it doesn’t collect the votes of 401 lawmakers or a two-third majority.
There’ll be a standoff should that happen.
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Water level rises above danger mark in Saptakosi

Kathmandu, 20 July: Forty-nine sluice gates were opened in Kosi barrage after the rater level rose abode the danger mark Tuesday in Saptakosi river
Red flag was hoisted on the barrage amid blaring of sirens.
Altogether 227,435 cusecs of water was flowing per second in the river of sorrow—the highest this year.
Meanwhile, monsoon continues to create havoc in districts, mainly in the far-West where eight districts have been badly affected.
Ten members of a family are missing after being washed away by a river in Dolpa north of the Himalaya; a police post has been washed away in the district.
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