FOUR INJURED IN TERAI FIRE Kathmandu, 29 April: Four persons were injured and nearly 300 houses were destroyed by fire Saturdayin Siraha, Kapilvasthu and Biratnagar, Gorkhapatra reports. Conservative damage estimated at Rs.75 million. Nnnn PRIVATE RESIDENCE OF KING BUIRENDRA INSIDE NARAYANHITI STILL NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC BECAUSE OF ACCES ROAD UNCERTAINTY Kathmandu, 29 April: Shri Sadan—the private residence of King Birendra inside former Narayanhiti Royal Palace—is still not open to the general public, Gorkhapatra reports. Officials at the Narayanhiti National Museum aren’t decided on an approach road to the building. nnnn STATE HONOUS LIKELY TO BE DELAYED Kathmandu, 29 April:: The medals meant for the first batch of recipients of state honours, announced two years ago, are almost ready, The Himalayan Times reports. The Department of Cottage and Small Scale Industries, Patan, has handed the medals to the Nepali Army’s Sundarijal Arsenal for polishing, according to an official at the Home Ministry. The plan to confer the state honours on the selected lot before the Republic Day (May 28) is likely to be delayed as the government is planning to celebrate the day in a grand manner, unlike Democracy Day and Loktantra Diwas. “There is a chance that the new batch of state honours will be announced on the Republic Day,” informed a source. The medal minting process took more than a year due to soaring prices of gold and precious stones used in the medals and lack of craftsmen and equipment. The department tasked with casting 232 decorations, orders and medals has so far made decorations of Nepal Ratna Malla, Rastra Gaurab, Rastra Deep and Janasewa Shree. Nnnn