GULMI BANDH CALLED OFF Kathmandu, 15 Feb.: Locals in Gulmi withdraw an indefinite bandh Friday. An agreement was reached to declare the district as load shedding free and to regularise power supply. Locals called the district bandh protesting a daily 18-hour power cut. The bandh was withdrawn after a meeting of locals, Nepal Electricity Authority officials, political parties and civil society members. Nnnn DEADLY ARSENIC FOUND IN 1,500 TUBEWELLS IN KANCHANPUR Kathmandu, 15 Feb.:Water in as many as 1,500 tube-wells was found unsafe for drinking due to arsenic at 19 VDCs in Kanchanpur district, according to a survey conducted by the District Drinking Water and Sanitation Sub-Division, RSS reports from Kanchanpur.. The survey found water in 1,500 tube-wells unsafe for drinking as it consists excessive contents (50 PPB) of arsenic. The office had tested the arsenic from samples of some 53,000 tube-wells in the district. Chief of the Sub-division Office, Prem Dotel, said the water that contains more than 50 PPB is considered to be unsafe for drinking. Some tube-wells in Laxmipur VDC were found to contain more than 140 PPB arsenic. The water from tube-wells in Laxmipur, Krishnapur and Raikabar Bichawa areas contain more arsenic and that the Sub-Division Office has distributed 100 sets of bio-sand filters in Laxmipur. He added, "We have brought materials to install 100 borings in the arsenic affected areas with a view to providing safe drinking water. Preparations to bring materials for installing additional 500 borings are underway." Nnnn HELLO MOBIL SERVICE DISRUPTED Kathmandu, 15 Feb.: The Hello Mobile has halted its services here following an attack on its tower by All Nepal Revolutionary Media and Press Organisation, RSS reports from Nepalgunj.. The organisation cadres also cut off the three main telephone lines of the company. All the services of the company remain disrupted in the Mid-western and the Far-western development regions due to this. The organisation announced different programmes of protest against the management since last January after the company management sacked 87 employees at the company. nnnn