In the Banke rural municipality, as many as 13 infected went into hiding after they tested positive for the coronavirus. The reasons are manifold, including rumours, fake news and illiteracy.

On Tuesday, the district administration decided to remodel spaces in Nepalgunj and Kohalpur as isolation wards, before the locals argued the infected be sent home.

With 24 positive cases in Nepalgunj, authorities are focusing on tracing contacts of those infected to control the spread of the virus.

The local administration on Monday issued a prohibitory order in Nepalgunj with effect from Tuesday to control the possible spread of coronavirus.

Most retail shops are closed due to lack of food grains and other daily essentials at the wholesalers’, according to the district authority.

While in a majority of districts, the situation remained normal with public complying with the order, in others the police had to make arrests, confiscate vehicles and even resort to imposing a curfew.

Many farmers in the rural municipality have converted the forest land into agricultural fields.

Local governments have failed to even identify and conduct studies on ancient sites of archaeological importance.

More than 200 farmers have already lost their cultivable lands in Geruwa Municipality to the erosion caused by Geruwa river and the alleged encroachment of private land by Bardiya National Park.

Nepalis living along the Nepal-India border have been frequenting the forest on the other side of the border for fodder for their cattle.

Shivakhola, Sikta and Gabhar areas, which fall under the national park, have been identified as major habitats of gharials, perfect for its conservation.

To expand forest cover, some locals have even donated their land to plant trees.

The disease—which is a group of blood disorders—spreads like an epidemic every year in several Tharu villages in Bardiya.

Officials say they don’t have enough staff to open office near the village.

When the female ward chiefs assumed office two years ago, there were plenty of naysayers. Now, the naysayers have become supporters.