FLIGHTS TO AND FROM NEPALGUNJ AFFECTED BECAUSE OF COLD Kathmandu, 18 Dec.: Cold has hit the far-West affecting flights to and from Nepalgung Tuesday. Flights to the hills and the capital were affected. nnnn. NEW TEAMS IN ELEPHANT RACE Kathmandu, 18 Dec. : Some 24 teams are taking part in the ninth international elephant marathon competition to be held in Sauraha of Chitwan this year, RSS reports from Ratnanagar, Chitwan.. The number of competitors is the highest-ever. There were only 20 groups in the last year´s competition and that the number has increased this year with additional four groups of foreigners joined the elephant marathon race. The Chitwan Elephant Festival and International Elephant Marathon Championship is taking place in Sauraha on December 26-29 under the aegis of regional Horel Association, Sauraha. Some 16 foreign teams and eight Nepali team are contesting in the event, said Association Chairperson Narayan Bhattarai. All the groups have booked elephants for the race, the organizer said. Likewise four elephants are participating in the elephant beauty pageant this year, informed event coordinator Gyanendra Bista. nnnn TUSKER MENACE IN UDAIPUR AS WELL Kathmandu, 18 Dec.: Locals are compelled to spend whole night sitting around the fire due to fear with growing rampage of wild tuskers in eastern VDCs of Udayapurm RSS reports from Gaighat.. Villagers resorted to camp fire during the night to chase away elephants after elephants in group rampaged human settlement n Hadiya, Jogidaha and Sundarpur VDCs in the district. The tusker rampage has increased in the villages since last Saturday, said Ram Narayan Chaudhary, a local of Jogidaha. A group of elephants had dismantled the house of Muneswor Chaudhary in Jogidaha area on Sunday night.. Nnnn BODIES OF COUPLE KILLED BY ELEPHANT YET TO E PICKED UP IN CHITWAN Kathmandu, 18 Dec.: Bodies of an elderly couple killed at Madi, Chitwan, 36 hours ago are yet to e picked up for final rites The rogue elephant went on a rampage and destroyed three hotels after killing the couple. Locals have been demanding security amid increasing elephant attacks as man and animal compete for space. They also demanded the elephant be killed—a demand to which authorities have acceded. nnnn