TERRIFIED LOCALS WORSHIP SETI RIVRS TO APPEASE IT AFTER MORE THAN 70 DEATHS IN FLASH FLOOD Kathmandu, 11 July: Terrified by the recent flash floods in Seti River which killed many people, locals have worshipped at the Seti River wishing that no misfortune would befall on them onwards, RSS reports from Pokhara. The worship was organised at Shukla Gandaki along the Seti River bank in Pokhara organised jointly by the Kedareswor Mahadevmani Preservation Committee and the Bolbam Committee Pokhara. On the occasion, they wished for eternal peace to the departed soul of those who died in the flood and landslides. A total of 30 people died and some 40 people disappeared when the flood that occurred on May 5 due to avalanche in Seti River source swept away the Kharapani Bazaar at Tatopani in Kaski district. nnnn MINISTER’S ACCOUNT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES OF THOSE KILLED IN CONFLICT Kathmandu, 11 July: Minister for Peace and Reconstruction, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi has said that a total of Rs. 450 million has been distributed to families of those, who lost their lives in conflict so far, RSS reports. Inaugurating the regional seminar of coordinators and women members of local peace committees organized by the Ministry here today, Minister Rayamajhi said important works of rehabilitation of the conflict victims and establishment of lasting peace still remain. He stressed that the committee should adopt achievements and correct weaknesses by reviewing the works carried out so far. On the occasion, central member of the UCPN-Maoist, Dhruba Parajuli, said that equal treatment should be given to all those killed and displaced in the conflict as complaints are received over providing Rs. one million to one who was killed in the conflict period by the state and only Rs. 300,000 to one who was killed by the rebel side. Similarly, central member of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF)-Loktantrik, Bhupendra Chaudhary and central member of the MJF-Nepal, Dr. Shivaji Yadav, expressed the confidence that lasting peace would be restored only if everyone plays effective role by being responsible from their respective sectors for the establishment of peace. Likewise, secretary of the Ministry, Dhruba Sharma, joint-secretary laxmi Basnet, joint-secretary of Home Ministry, Ram Prasad Thapaliya, among others, stressed that development of the country would move ahead only if sustainable peace was maintained in the local level. Around 60 coordinators and women members of 29 districts are participating in the regional seminar. The Ministry has been allocating Rs. 500,000 every year to carry out works of peace. Peace committees have been formed in 75 districts, 30 municipalities and 2,000 VDCs. nnnn