Aditi Aryal

All photos: SANU RAJA MAHARJAN raditionally celebrated with much vigour and enthusiasm, the Kartik Nach performance in Patan Durbar, revived after many decades last year, was cut short and subdued this year because of the pandemic. Organisers did not admit any visitors and sealed off the ancient square during the dance that was limited to [...]

It has been almost seven months since Pooja KC’s children last went to school. When their school shut down in March as part of the government measure to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, KC was told that classes will be held online. But the school stopped its virtual classes within a month. KC’s children, aged 14 and 9, attend a small private school in Baluwatar, Kathmandu.

Last week, Sabina Thapa, a 23-year-old woman in her eighth month of pregnancy, died in Biratnagar after six hospitals refused to admit her. The previous evening, Thapa had slipped and fell down in her bathroom. Her health had deteriorated sharply within 24 hours and on Wednesday her family took her to Nobel Hospital immediately where she was refused admission. Her family tried five more hospitals, including Birat Medical College, Birat Nursing Home, Koshi, Green Cross and Suraksha Hospitals.