<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/6372234a9c7e80680e0c0342jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"/><figcaption>All photos: AMIT MACHAMASI</figcaption></figure>National Paddy Planting Day or Dhan Diwas is a celebration across the country. It is an even bigger deal here in Pokhara Valley which grows some of Nepal’s most famous indigenous varieties of rice including Jethobudo, Mansuli and Pokhreli.Famers gather, singing and dancing. Mud-splashing is a celebration-must, as is the feast on dahi chiura, a traditional post ropain meal of curd and beaten rice on Asar 15.What these pictures do not tell us, however, is how the local communities are having to cope with the increasing <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/on-high-monsoon-alert-in-nepal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">impacts of the climate crisis</a>. Farmers, majority of whom are dependent on rain for agriculture, have either little too or little too much water pushing their planting schedules.This has also meant that many local <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/the-rise-of-rice-in-nepal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">rice varieties</a> are disappearing and others are being attacked by new pests and diseases. This has had a direct impact on further impoverishing the poor who are now migrating to the cities, across the border to India, or the Gulf or Malaysia for better economic opportunities.Paddy is Nepal’s <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/editorial/nepals-rice-economy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">major crop</a> but the productivity has not kept in pace with the increasing population. As it stands, the country grows 5.13 million metric tons of paddy a year at 3.47 tons per hectare.Nepal was expected to record its highest annual rice harvest last year given the early start to the monsoon. But much of the standing crop was <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/post-monsoon-rain-ruins-nepals-crops/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">destroyed in an unseasonal post-monsoon cloudburst</a> in October.Back in Pokhara, photo journalist Amit Machamasi captures farmers as they transplant rice seedlings this week.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/6372234e9c7e80680e0c0343jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/637223519c7e80680e0c0344jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/637223549c7e80680e0c0345jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/637223579c7e80680e0c0346jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/637223599c7e80680e0c0347jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/6372235c9c7e80680e0c0348jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/637223609c7e80680e0c0349jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/637223629c7e80680e0c034ajpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/637223649c7e80680e0c034bjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/637223669c7e80680e0c034cjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/637223699c7e80680e0c034djpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114121112/6372236c9c7e80680e0c034ejpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000">Read also: <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/climate-change-affects-himalayan-rice/">Climate change hits Himalayan rice</a>, Erica Wu

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Paddy planting in Pokhara

<figure><img width="960" height="640" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101144/63720e6f9c7e80680e0b7918jpeg.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>All photos: Amit Machamasi</figcaption></figure>After sweltering in temperatures 3-4 degrees above normal for the past week, parts of Kathmandu Valley experienced a brief shower that cooled things down. <img width="960" height="640" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101144/63720e729c7e80680e0b7919jpeg.jpg" alt=""><img width="960" height="641" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101144/63720e759c7e80680e0b791ajpeg.jpg" alt=""><img width="896" height="597" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101144/63720e779c7e80680e0b791bjpeg.jpg" alt="">The eastern parts of the Valley, including Bhaktapur got an unexpected drenching on Tuesday afternoon. <img width="892" height="594" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101144/63720e7a9c7e80680e0b791cjpeg.jpg" alt=""><img width="960" height="640" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101144/63720e7c9c7e80680e0b791djpeg.jpg" alt=""><img width="720" height="480" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101144/63720e7f9c7e80680e0b791ejpeg.jpg" alt="">Isolated showers, some with lightning, forecast in central and eastern Nepal for Wednesday as well. <img width="960" height="640" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101144/63720e829c7e80680e0b791fjpeg.jpg" alt="">

Rainy respite in Kathmandu Valley

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101120/6372086a9c7e80680e0b54e5jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1366"/><figcaption>All photos: AMIT MACHAMASI</figcaption></figure>On weekends, <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/mist-and-mud-in-nagarkots-empty-monsoon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nagarkot</a>'s cool breeze and coniferous forests are a summer getaway for Kathmandu residents, but this Saturday it became a winter wonderland.Heavy snowfall of up to 30cm on Friday turned the ridgetop resort at 2,300m elevation and 25km east of Kathmandu into a selfie spot. As word spread through social media, hundreds of vehicles jammed the highway up to the town on Saturday.Young and old alike could be seen making snowballs and revelling in the powder snow. Others took quiet walks up the ridge along forest paths in deep snow.The <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/nepals-wet-icy-winter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">westerly weather system arrived in western Nepal</a> on Thursday, and a major storm on Friday dumped rain and snow on the Kathmandu Valley rim.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101120/6372086d9c7e80680e0b54e6jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="435"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101120/6372086f9c7e80680e0b54e7jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1366"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101120/637208739c7e80680e0b54e8jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1366"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101120/637208769c7e80680e0b54e9jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1366"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101120/637208799c7e80680e0b54eajpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1366"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101120/6372087c9c7e80680e0b54ebjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1366"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221114101120/6372087f9c7e80680e0b54ecjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1366">While city folk were <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/tang-tings-winter-wonderland/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">enjoying the snow</a>, it also caused major hardships as the mercury plummeted and highways were blocked by snow and ice, especially in western Nepal. In Madhes Province, three people were killed as storms lashed the plains on Friday.There has so far been 70mm of rain in Kathmandu so far this winter, which is more than three times the precipitation during the <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/wildfires-ravage-nepal-mountains/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">drought last winter</a>.The rain and snow subsided by Saturday noon, and the snow had started to melt. The weather is expected to clear up from Sunday.

Snow show in Nagarkot

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d06769c7e80680e0a5f63jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"/><figcaption>All photos: AMIT MACHAMASI</figcaption></figure>S ections of the Arniko Highway between Kathmandu and Banepa that are prone to chronic flooding every monsoon season were submerged again on Friday after heavy overnight rain.Trucks and vans were stuck in the high water along Banepa's main thoroughfare, while some paddled in makeshift floats to get across the highway.Water from a nearby stream overflowed into the road because of insufficient drainage, and compound walls that act like dams along natural floodplains of rivers.As predicted by weather modellers, this year's monsoon has been vigorous and total precipitation for June was on average 35% higher than average for Nepal.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d06789c7e80680e0a5f64jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d067a9c7e80680e0a5f65jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d067d9c7e80680e0a5f66jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d06809c7e80680e0a5f67jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="638"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d06829c7e80680e0a5f68jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d06869c7e80680e0a5f69jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d06899c7e80680e0a5f6ajpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="639"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d068b9c7e80680e0a5f6bjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d068e9c7e80680e0a5f6cjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d06909c7e80680e0a5f6djpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d06939c7e80680e0a5f6ejpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111015118/636d06959c7e80680e0a5f6fjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="639">After the first burst in mid-June, Central and eastern Nepal are now being lashed by a second wave, causing landslides to block the country's arterial highways. The Mugling-Narayanghat section, for example, has only opened erratically for the past week with constant rockfalls.At least 7 people were killed on Thursday alone in different parts of the country. Among them was a policeman at the Darchula station as the rains arrived in western Nepal.In Myagdi, Palpa, Syangja, Gulmi and Jhapa, some 50 homes were swept away by flood waters or landslides. As the swollen rivers descended into the plains, farms and villages in Province 2 have also been submerge.A 300m section of the trekking trail to Larkya Pass along the Budi Gandaki River, already badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake has been completely washed away. Upper Gorkha is now accessible only by helicopter.

Monsoon submerges Kathmandu environs

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121156/636ce7109c7e80680e09679fjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="641"/><figcaption>All photos: AMIT MACHAMASI</figcaption></figure>In a scene reminiscent of last year, tens of thousands of people thronged Kathmandu's main bus terminals to get out of the capital ahead of<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/kathmandu-locks-down-again/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Thursday's Covid-19 lockdown</a>.Most are leaving for their home districts in whatever trasport they can find: riding on top of buses, on the back of pickups or in taxis. The three district administrations in Kathmandu Valley announced a two week-long prohibitory order from 29 April as the country confronts a rising trajectory of Covid-19 cases and deaths. However, domestic flights will not be affected by the restrictions.A similar <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/nepal-goes-into-lockdown-for-a-week/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announcement of a lockdown on 24 March 2020</a> saw an exodus of an estimated one-third of Kathmandu Valley's population. Many who could not find transport walked for weeks from Kathmandu to remote districts.Nepal recorded 4,364 new Covid-19 cases from 14,672 PCR tests on Tuesday, of which 1966 were in Kathmandu Valley--with 1,602 in Kathmandu, 240 in Lalitpur, and 124 in Bhaktapur. There were 18 additional deaths, bringing the official total to 3,194. Meanwhile, the positivity rate has risen more steeply in the second wave to more than 30%, compared to less than 4% in February, while there are more than 25,000 active cases.These photos taken at the Bus Park in Gongabu on Tuesday afternoon show people not caring about keeping physical distance to crowd around ticket counters, potentially risking a community spread of the virus. In the past month, hundreds of thousands of Nepalis have also returned from India, and tests at the border have shown that up to 10-15% of those tested were positive, or had been infected with Covid-19.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121156/636ce7139c7e80680e0967a0jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="912" height="610"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121156/636ce7159c7e80680e0967a1jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121156/636ce7189c7e80680e0967a2jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="721" height="481"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121156/636ce71a9c7e80680e0967a3jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121156/636ce71c9c7e80680e0967a4jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121156/636ce71f9c7e80680e0967a5jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="641"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121156/636ce7219c7e80680e0967a6jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121156/636ce7249c7e80680e0967a7jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121156/636ce7279c7e80680e0967a8jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121156/636ce7299c7e80680e0967a9jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640">Read also: <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/editorial/the-covid-tsunami/">The Covid tsunami</a>, Editorial

Another Kathmandu exodus

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111011114/636ccc9e9c7e80680e08bc31jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="500"/><figcaption>All photos: AMIT MACHAMASI</figcaption></figure>The Nepali state observed Democracy Day on 19 February inside Tundikhel, but a few hours later civic groups demonstrated on its perimeter demanding that the space be given back to the public.Democracy Day on Falgun 7 marks the day of the return from India of King Tribhuvan and the formal end to the 104-year rule by the hereditary Rana oligarchy in 1950. However, democracy has seen many ups and downs in the period.The latest challenge has been by Prime Minister Oli, who dissolved the Lower House and called for snap polls, just a year ahead of schedule. Many saw the move as unconstitutional, and the prime minister going against the country’s democratic principles because he could not manage a power struggle within his ruling Nepal Communist Party.There have been protests by a rival faction of the party led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal on the streets, and Prime Minister Oli himself has been rallying his supporters in cities across the country. The two sides have been competing to bring out more people out as a show of force while the Supreme Court decides on the fate of the Lower House.Civic groups have also been protesting a myriad issues related to women’s rights, gender-based violence and a spate of rape cases. Friday’s demo was organised by a citizen’s group demanding that Tundikhel be given back to the people by the Nepal Army which has encroached upon most of it.Among the protesters on Friday who carried a map of the shrinking Tundikhel, while others held placards that told the government it had ‘f**** with the wrong generation’.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111011114/636ccca19c7e80680e08bc32jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111011114/636ccca39c7e80680e08bc33jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111011114/636ccca69c7e80680e08bc34jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111011114/636ccca89c7e80680e08bc35jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111011114/636cccaa9c7e80680e08bc36jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111011114/636cccad9c7e80680e08bc37jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111011114/636cccb09c7e80680e08bc38jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111011114/636cccb29c7e80680e08bc39jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480">Read also: <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/open-spaces-and-open-society/">Open spaces and open society</a>, Bicram Rijal

Two Tundikhel events

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6b59c7e80680e07373djpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480"/><figcaption>All photos: BIKRAM RAI</figcaption></figure>The first day of the second lockdown in Kathmandu Valley saw major intersections mostly deserted with main roads heavily patrolled by the police. Very few vehicles were out and about and handful number of people on the streets were compulsorily wearing masks and mindful of maintaining physical distance.Previously, Nepal had been under strict nationwide lockdown from 24 March, but it was <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/nepal-ends-covid-19-lockdown/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">eased on 21 June</a> allowing limited local public transport, opening of shops and restaurants. However, the announcement also saw a <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/heightened-covid-19-risk-at-india-nepal-border/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">surge of people entering Nepal from India</a>. After the Tarai cities started reporting spikes, the <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/covid-19-spreads-closer-to-nepals-ruling-circle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">infection also spread to Kathmandu</a>.After Nepal registered 1,016 new cases of <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/dont-take-covid-19-lightly/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Covid-19 on Tuesday,</a> its biggest daily rise so far, the authorities decided to re-impose lockdown for a week in Kathmandu Valley starting midnight Wednesday.The restrictions in Kathmandu Valley means that no government, private or public transport will be allowed on the streets. However, food distribution, health services and security vehicles will be allowed. Pedestrians will also not be allowed into the streets except at specified times in the morning to buy provisions.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6b89c7e80680e07373ejpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6ba9c7e80680e07373fjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6bd9c7e80680e073740jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6bf9c7e80680e073741jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1365"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6c29c7e80680e073742jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6c59c7e80680e073743jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6c79c7e80680e073744jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6c99c7e80680e073745jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6cb9c7e80680e073746jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6ce9c7e80680e073747jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="428"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6d09c7e80680e073748jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914118/636ba6d39c7e80680e073749jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>Photos: Bikram Rai

Kathmandu Lockdown 2.0

<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba5809c7e80680e0736cdjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1334"/><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba58a9c7e80680e0736cejpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1333"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba58d9c7e80680e0736cfjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1333"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba5919c7e80680e0736d0jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1365"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba5949c7e80680e0736d1jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1365"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba5979c7e80680e0736d2jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1332"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba59b9c7e80680e0736d3jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1334"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba59e9c7e80680e0736d4jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1398"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba5a19c7e80680e0736d5jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1333">Photos: Bikram Rai and Monika Deupala

COVID-19 mutes Krishna festival in Kathmandu

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a4b9c7e80680e06b233jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1366"/><figcaption>Photos: BIKRAM RAI, MONIKA DEUPALA AND MANISH PAUDEL</figcaption></figure>The Nepal government on Monday decided to extend the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown by nine days till 15th April. The country has been under complete shutdown since 23rd March.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a4e9c7e80680e06b234jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1335" height="891"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a519c7e80680e06b235jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1404" height="936"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a549c7e80680e06b236jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1404" height="936"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a579c7e80680e06b237jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="654" height="436"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a5a9c7e80680e06b238jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1366"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a5d9c7e80680e06b239jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1365"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a609c7e80680e06b23ajpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2015" height="1317">The lockdown, which now rolls unto the third week has seen drastic changes in everyday life of people. Many Nepalis now work from home and are getting used to the idea of social distance. A few essential services continue to remain open for certain hours, along with several home delivery services on the run. Police continue to dutifully monitor the security and medical in-charge are preparing to combat the outbreak, while dogs have taken over the empty roads. The shutdown has also given nature a respite.<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/nepal-goes-into-lockdown-for-a-week/">Nepal goes into lockdown for a week</a>, Nepali Times<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a649c7e80680e06b23bjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1364"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a679c7e80680e06b23cjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1421" height="931"><a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/locked-down-patan-by-night/">Locked down Patan by night</a>, Guligo Jia<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a6a9c7e80680e06b23djpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1364"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a6d9c7e80680e06b23ejpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1366"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a719c7e80680e06b23fjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a749c7e80680e06b240jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="4096" height="2730">With nine COVID-19 cases confirmed and the first in-country transmission, Nepali social life has come to a standstill, while many continue to enjoy a quiet life with the family, others yearn to go back to their families.<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/confusion-persists-about-lockdown-rules/">Confusion persists about lockdown rules</a>, Alisha Sijapati<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a789c7e80680e06b241jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1335"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a7b9c7e80680e06b242jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1335"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a7e9c7e80680e06b243jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1335"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a819c7e80680e06b244jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1335"><a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/opinion/nepal-locked-down-now-what/">Nepal locked down, now what?</a>, Marty Logan<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a849c7e80680e06b245jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1335"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a879c7e80680e06b246jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1335">Read also:<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/opinion/unlocking-yourself-during-the-lockdown/">Unlocking yourself during the lockdown</a>,  Saniaa Shah<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/pandemic-is-a-chance-to-rethink-development/">Pandemic is a chance to rethink development</a>, Ivan G Somlai

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