SUCCESSFUL NAC TEST FLIGHT TO BAGLUNG

NAC SUCCESSFUL TEST FLIGHT AFTER 20YEARS TO BAGLUNG
Kathmandu, 4 Jan.: Nepal Airlines Corporation ( NAC) made a successful test flight to Baglung on Wednesday, RSS reports from Baglung.

The Balewa airport that was useless for the last 20 years though the local residents urged to bring the airport into operation time and again, as it was not operational showing the lack of passengers, has now been brought into operation.

The air service was disrupted after the Pokhara-Baglung Highway was operational.

A team led by Minister for Education Dina Nath Sharma and Civil Aviation Minister Lokendra Bista were in the NAC 9NR BH Twin Otter's test flight.
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WOMAN DIES OF COLD IN MOHOTTARI

Kathamandu, 4 Jan.: A woman has died on Wednesday due to sudden fall in mercury in Mahottari district for the past four days, RSS reports from Bardibas.

Ritadevi Saha, 31, of Ekdara VDC of Mahottari district died of freezing cold caused by cold wave, said her family. District Police Office, Mahottari has also confirmed that Saha had died of cold.

Normal life in the district was affected due to cold since the beginning of the English New Year 2012.

Earlier to this, as many as 14 persons had died of 17 day-long cold wave in December, informed District Public Health Office, Mahottari. However, the local media claimed that a total of 24 persons died due to cold last month.

Number of patients affected by cold in the rural settlements was increased in the district of late. Children and elderly people have mostly suffered from common cold, pneumonia and other cold related diseases.
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BRITISH GURKHA SOLDIER DIES LONG AFTER INJURY IN AFGHANISTAN

Kathmandu, 4 Jan.: A Nepalese Gurkha soldier serving in the British army has died in hospital a year and a half after being injured in a bomb blast in southern Afghanistan, defence officials in London said Tuesday, AFP reports from London..

The soldier, from 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, died Monday in Birmingham, central England, where he was receiving treatment after being hit by a homemade bomb explosion in Helmand province in June 2010.

"It is with great sadness that I must confirm the death of a Gurkha soldier from 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, who had previously been seriously injured in Afghanistan," said his commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel David Robinson.

His death brings the number of British troops killed serving in Afghanistan to 395 since the launch of military action in 2001. Of these, 351 were killed in combat.

His next of kin have been informed, the defence ministry said in a statement.

Britain has some 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, mainly based in Helmand where they are battling a Taliban insurgency. Britain intends to pull out all its combat troops by 2015.

Around 3,500 Gurkhas, recruited from Nepal, currently serve in the British army, including in Afghanistan, and they have their own brigade, of which the Royal Gurkha Rifles are part.

About 200,000 Gurkhas fought for Britain in World War I and World War II and more than 45,000 have died in British uniform. They have a reputation for ferocity and bravery and are known for their distinctive curved Kukri knives.
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