KATHMANDU, NEPAL: Government of Nepal has extended the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger flights to and from Nepal until May 31 midnight.
The suspension period of International schedule flights (except two flights a week between Kathmandu and New Delhi, one flight each by Nepal Airlines and Air India, under Air travel Bubble Arrangement) is extended till 31st May 2021 (23:59 hrs NST), “the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal(CANN) said on Tuesday in its notice.
“Airlines are informed not to open passenger booking to and from Nepal until further advice and also notified to facilitate refunding of Air Ticket or extension of travel date as required by passengers”, the authority said in its notice.
Nepal earlier on May 2 decided to halt all domestic flights from May 3 midnight and all international flights from May 7 midnight until May 14 to check the rapidly growing spread of the Covid-19.
Prohibitory orders in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur is in place since April 29 also extended until May 27.
A landslide-triggered flood swept away homes, bridges and hydropower facilities in Gorkha. Five people remained out of contact, Nepal's disaster authority said.
The World Bank projects Nepal's growth will slow to 3.7% in fiscal 2027 after the Rasuwa flood disrupted industry and services. It expects reconstruction and rehabilitation to support a recovery to 5.2% in fiscal 2028.
Prime Minister Balen Shah says 5,737 families have received land ownership certificates in Nepal. His Facebook post outlines a review of more than 1.3 million applications, proposed legal changes and a 1,000-day pledge to resolve landlessness. The figures could not be independently verified.
Nepal has suspended most search operations following the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods after 40 days. Officials reported 1,456 deaths and 4,718 people missing as the government shifted its attention to reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Nepal's mountain guides association said four bodies were recovered at Himlung Himal Base Camp and 12 kitchen workers remain missing. The volunteer rescue team paused its search because deep snow and unstable conditions made further work dangerous.
