Deepak Adhikari
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Covers:
misinformation and disinformation, fact-checking, big tech, accountability, corruption, political economy, human rights, environment and climate change.
Freelance journalist and misinformation researcher. Past: @Nepal_Check www.NepalCheck.org Editor @Southasiacheck, Reporter @dpa_intl @AFP 🇳🇵
Articles by Deepak Adhikari
After Botswana, Nepal tries artificial scent marking to fend big cats off villages
Researchers from Cornell University, WWF Nepal and local forest authorities in Nepal are testing lab-made versions of big-cat scent chemicals, which they call “BioBoundaries,” an attempt to create a chemical fence to keep big cats away from livestock. Some experiment sites report that tigers and leopards approach the scent stations, investigate them and often turn back without crossing. Of 10 compounds tested, three were linked to fewer leopard detections and two to fewer tiger detections.
Over 900 dead, thousands missing as Nepal begins mass burials
KATHMANDU, Nepal — The death toll from last week’s devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 903, disaster management authorities said on Monday, bringing the confirmed death toll in Nepal and China to at least 919. The number of people missing in Nepal also rose sharply to 4,247, including 592 foreigners, while 546 people remain unaccounted for in China.
Over 900 dead, thousands missing as Nepal begins mass burials
KATHMANDU, Nepal — The death toll from last week’s devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 903, disaster management authorities said on Monday, bringing the confirmed death toll in Nepal and China to at least 919. The number of people missing in Nepal also rose sharply to 4,247, including 592 foreigners, while 546 people remain unaccounted for in China.
Over 900 dead, thousands missing as Nepal begins mass burials
KATHMANDU, Nepal - The death toll from last week's devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 903, disaster management authorities said on Monday, bringing the confirmed death toll in Nepal and China to at least 919. The number of people missing in Nepal also rose sharply to 4,247, including 592 foreigners, while 546 people remain unaccounted for in China.
Over 900 dead, thousands missing as Nepal begins mass burials
By Deepak Adhikari and Johannes Neudecker, dpa KATHMANDU, Nepal - The death toll from last week's devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 903, disaster management authorities said on Monday, bringing the confirmed death toll in Nepal and China to at least 919. The number of people missing in Nepal also rose sharply to 4,247, including 592 foreigners, while 546 people remain unaccounted for in China.
Nepal’s Young Leader Faces an Early Test Over Ties With China and India
KATHMANDU, Nepal — In late June, as Kathmandu University prepared to host an international conference on Tibetan studies, immigration officials visited its offices. They asked who would attend the conference and requested a final list of participants. The scrutiny soon intensified. In July, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming reportedly warned Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai that the multi-day seminar, scheduled to begin Aug. 23, could become a platform for challenging Chinese rule over Tibet.
Over 900 dead, thousands missing as Nepal begins mass burials
Nepal's army personnel return from a search operation with the bodies of deceased flood victims at Bharatpur in Nepal's Chitwan district on Aug. 31, 2026. Nepal was burying on August 31 some of the hundreds of bodies retrieved after a deadly, tsunami-like flood crashed through the Himalayan region, sweeping away villages and leaving thousands still missing.
Massengräber in Nepal stoßen auf Kritik - Suche geht weiter
Zum Inhalt springen Startseite Panorama Notfall Wegen der Flut in Nepal droht die Ausbreitung von Krankheiten. Die nepalesischen Behörden treffen deshalb eine drastische Entscheidung. Diese sorgt bei vielen Hindus für großen Unmut. Kathmandu/Gyirong • Lesedauer: 3 min. Durch die Sturzflut wurden ganze Landstriche verwüstet. (Foto: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP/dpa) In Nepal werden die ersten Opfer der verheerenden Flutkatastrophe in Massengräbern beigesetzt.
Massengräber in Nepal stoßen auf Kritik - Suche geht weiter
Zum Inhalt springen Startseite Panorama Notfall Wegen der Flut in Nepal droht die Ausbreitung von Krankheiten. Die nepalesischen Behörden treffen deshalb eine drastische Entscheidung. Diese sorgt bei vielen Hindus für großen Unmut. Kathmandu/Gyirong • Lesedauer: 3 min. Durch die Sturzflut wurden ganze Landstriche verwüstet. (Foto: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP/dpa) In Nepal werden die ersten Opfer der verheerenden Flutkatastrophe in Massengräbern beigesetzt.
Nepal warnt nach neuem Dammbruch in Katastrophengebiet
Zum Inhalt springen Startseite Panorama Notfall Die Helfer im Katastrophengebiet zwischen Nepal und China wollten mit Hochdruck nach Vermissten suchen. Doch dann geschieht das, wovor die Behörden bereits gewarnt hatten. Kathmandu • Lesedauer: 1 min. Vor dem neu angestauten See hatten die Behörden bereits am Donnerstag gewarnt. (Foto: Li Jian/XinHua/dpa) Im Flut-Katastrophengebiet zwischen Nepal und China sorgt eine Warnung vor einer möglichen neuen Flut für Unruhe.
Nepal warnt nach neuem Dammbruch in Katastrophengebiet
Zum Inhalt springen Startseite Panorama Notfall Die Helfer im Katastrophengebiet zwischen Nepal und China wollten mit Hochdruck nach Vermissten suchen. Doch dann geschieht das, wovor die Behörden bereits gewarnt hatten. Kathmandu • Lesedauer: 1 min. Vor dem neu angestauten See hatten die Behörden bereits am Donnerstag gewarnt. (Foto: Li Jian/XinHua/dpa) Im Flut-Katastrophengebiet zwischen Nepal und China sorgt eine Warnung vor einer möglichen neuen Flut für Unruhe.
Viral video shows Gurkha veterans in India, not Nepal
A video showing former Gurkha Rifles soldiers and their families singing India’s national anthem and saluting the Indian flag has been falsely claimed to be from Pokhara, Nepal. Nepal Check found that the video was filmed in Sukhiapokhri, a town in India’s Darjeeling district. On August 17, 2026, the X account @gorockgo_100, which regularly posts content about the Indian Army, shared the nearly two-minute video. Its caption claimed: “This is at Pokhara Nepal by veterans of Gurkha Rifles.
Delays, biosecurity failures worsened flu outbreak at Nepal zoo, probe finds
The bird flu outbreak at Nepal’s only zoo killed or led to the culling of at least 63 animals, including birds, wild cats, civets, two leopards, a jackal and a bear, an inquiry has found. The inquiry’s report says contaminated feed and water in open bird enclosures, along with failures in animal-food handling, likely helped the virus spread. The zoo remained open for five days after a rapid test indicated bird flu, despite receiving an earlier warning about infections among crows in Kathmandu.
Nepal in tight spot as US seeks special treatment for Starlink
Nepal lags its neighbors in internet use, largely due to its challenging Himalayan topography. SpaceX has offered its Starlink satellite internet service to solve this, but the company is resisting a legal requirement that it share ownership of its Nepali operations with a local partner. (Nikkei illustration) Policy Asia Nepal in tight spot as US seeks special treatment for Starlink Elon Musk offers SpaceX's internet service as alternative to Chinese-run networks
Nepal’s Central Zoo faces questions over its bird flu response
At least 40 animals have died at Nepal’s Central Zoo since a bird flu outbreak began in mid-June, most of them raptors and carnivores including a common leopard, though the zoo has refused to officially confirm the toll. Officials gave conflicting dates for when the first dead birds were found, and the zoo stayed open until June 19 despite a positive rapid test on June 14, a five-day gap that allowed the virus to spread through the facility.
Nepal’s infrastructure risks wildlife habitats beyond protected areas, study warns
A WWF Nepal mapping study has identified 515 “biodiversity important areas” across Nepal, many of which overlap with existing or planned road, railway and power line projects. Conservationists warn that Nepal’s infrastructure boom could fragment wildlife habitats and movement corridors, especially in wetlands, river valleys and mid-hill forests outside protected areas.
Experts caution Nepal’s plan to open doors to private zoos
Nepal’s draft guidelines to allow private zoos, wildlife hospitals and rescue centers marks a shift toward private participation in conservation, aimed at improving infrastructure and awareness. Experts say vague definitions, weak oversight and limited technical capacity could enable wildlife capture under the guise of rescue and lead to poor animal welfare.
Nepal’s New Rapper-Turned-Prime Minister Faces Old Political Challenges
KATHMANDU, Nepal — Balendra Shah built his reputation attacking Nepal’s political establishment long before entering politics. As a rapper known as Balen, he railed against corruption, inequality and state failure. Now, after a sweeping victory in elections earlier this month by his Rastriya Swatantra Party, or RSP, the 35-year-old is set to be sworn in Friday as prime minister. In that role, he will confront the task of fixing the very system he once denounced.
Nepal’s Elections Pit Gen Z Activists Against the Old Guard
KATHMANDU, Nepal — On the afternoon of Feb. 18, the rapper-turned-politician Balendra “Balen” Shah stepped onto a stage before tens of thousands of people in Dhangadhi, a city in Nepal’s far west, near the border with India. Behind him hung a giant banner emblazoned with a bell, the symbol of his Rastriya Swatantra Party.
Nepal’s Elections Pit Gen Z Activists Against the Old Guard
1 hour ago Gen Z For Change launches its "Eyes on AI" campaign against surveillance capitalism. I DM my friends on Instagram. I ride the subway everyday. I am a journalist. Because of these simple matters of fact, I find myself the unwitting target of a sweeping surveillance network that knows who I am, what I …
HT Syndication: Revisiting Vajpayee's complicated legacy
Nepal, Jan. 10 -- 'Believer's Dilemma', the second volume of a two-part biography of Indian politician Atal Behari Vajpayee by Abhishek Choudhary, picks up in 1977, a watershed year in Indian politics. For the first time since independence, voters decisively rejected the Congress, bringing in a non-Congress government in New Delhi. It was also Vajpayee's first real taste of power at the Centre.
Revisiting Vajpayee’s complicated legacy
‘Believer’s Dilemma’, the second volume of a two-part biography of Indian politician Atal Behari Vajpayee by Abhishek Choudhary, picks up in 1977, a watershed year in Indian politics. For the first time since independence, voters decisively rejected the Congress, bringing in a non-Congress government in New Delhi. It was also Vajpayee’s first real taste of power at the Centre.
How Social Media Was Flooded With False News After Nepal’s Gen Z Protests
When Nepal’s Gen Z protests erupted in early September, they were sparked by anger over a social media ban and deepening frustration with corruption. But what began as peaceful demonstrations quickly spiraled into arson and looting of government buildings and private property. The violence left more than 72 people dead, including 21 mostly young protesters on the first day, three police officers and many others trapped in buildings set ablaze by mobs.
TRT World - From TikTok to tear gas: How Indian media misframed Nepal’s Gen Z protests
Kathmandu – When 27-year-old Naresh Rawal scrolled through TikTok videos exposing the flashy “nepokids” lifestyles of Nepal’s political elite—their children flaunting luxury cars, watches, and sunglasses—he saw his own frustrations reflected. A student from western Nepal, scraping by on odd jobs in Kathmandu, Rawal joined thousands of Gen Z protesters outside parliament to vent his anger at the inequality between rulers and ordinary citizens.
भारत-नेपाल सीमा पर बसा गांव बना मानव हाथी सह-अस्तित्व की मिसाल
कभी मानव-हाथी संघर्ष के लिए जाने जाना वाला भारतीय सीमा से सटा पूर्वी नेपाल का एक गांव अब सह-अस्तित्व की मिसाल बन गया है। गांव वाले पहले हाथियों से डरते थे। लेकिन अब वे ऐसी फसल उगा रहे हैं, जिनसे हाथी दूर रहते हैं, साथ ही उन्होंने मधुमक्खी पालन भी शुरू कर दिया है। हाथियों को गांव से दूर ले जाने वाली एक टीम भी है जिससे वे सुरक्षित महसूस करते हैं। सरकार की नीतियों, वन्यजीव संरक्षण के प्रयासों और समुदाय के बदलते रवैये से मौतों की संख्या में काफी कमी आई है। 2015 के बाद से इस क्षेत्र में मानव-हाथी...
In western Nepal, farmers switch to growing turmeric; elephants stay away
In western Nepal’s Bardiya district, farmers from marginalized communities are replacing traditional crops with turmeric — a plant elephants avoid — dramatically reducing human-elephant conflict. Backed by conservation groups and supported by scientific studies, the community-led shift to turmeric farming offers a replicable model for coexistence.
On the India-Nepal border, ‘forest guardians’ track endangered red pandas
In the misty hills of eastern Nepal near the border with India, 48-year-old farmer Surya Bhattarai patrols the steep slopes of Sudap Community Forest in Taplejung district. Braving remoteness, treacherous terrain and wild animals, he is tracking red pandas, an elusive and endangered species native to the eastern Himalayas.
The forest guardians along Nepal-India border leading red panda conservation
In eastern Nepal’s Taplejung district, Forest Guardians like Surya Bhattarai are on the frontlines of red panda conservation — monitoring habitat, deterring poaching and gathering scientific data to help protect the species. With fewer than 10,000 wild red pandas left globally and major threats from road construction, habitat fragmentation and stray dog attacks, conservation efforts have expanded beyond protected areas into community forests.
US funding shortfall halts Nepal’s rhino census, sparks debate over methods
Nepal canceled its 2025 rhino census citing a funding shortfall following the Trump Administration’s pullout of USAID funding. The traditional census method, which uses elephant-mounted teams to sweep dense forests, is labor-intensive, costly, dangerous and outdated, wildlife experts say. Field researchers recount encounters with wild elephants and tigers during past censuses, calling for safer, non-invasive methods like genetic analysis and camera traps.
Meet the Nepali lawyers defending nature one case at a time
Lawyers in Nepal are increasingly turning to public interest litigation to demand accountability and stronger enforcement of environmental laws. They have filed public interest cases targeting issues like air pollution, deforestation, illegal quarrying and the misuse of protected areas. Their efforts have led to landmark rulings by the Supreme Court, including directives for better regulation and enforcement of existing laws.
From newsroom to classroom
I can’t quite recall how I ended up teaching primary school students, but it was my first proper job. After completing my intermediate studies in arts from Ratna Rajya Campus in the early 1990s, I was struggling to make ends meet in Kathmandu. My parents had stopped sending me their modest monthly allowance, which barely covered my rent and basic survival.
प्रवासी हाथियों के साथ जीना सीख रहा भारत-नेपाल सीमा पर बसा एक गांव
कभी मानव-हाथी संघर्ष के लिए सुर्खियों में रहने वाला भारतीय सीमा से सटा पूर्वी नेपाल का एक गांव अब सह-अस्तित्व के मॉडल पर चल रहा है। कभी भयभीत रहने वाले गांव वालों ने अब हाथी को पसंद नहीं आने वाली फसलों और मधुमक्खी पालन को अपना लिया है। साथ ही, त्वरित प्रतिक्रिया दल की मदद से वे हाथियों को सुरक्षित तरीके से दूर भगा देते हैं। सरकार की नीतियों, संरक्षण की कोशिशों और समुदाय के बदलते नजरिए से जान-माल के नुकसान में काफी कमी आई है। साल 2015 के बाद से इस क्षेत्र में किसी भी मौत की जानकारी नहीं मिली...
As elephant conflict shifts, Nepal's border village offers clues for coexistence
Human-elephant conflicts were once concentrated in the border village of Bahundangi in eastern Nepal, but the problem has since spread to other villages further west as a result of rapid urbanization, deforestation and infrastructure expansion that have forced elephants into human settlements.
How an agricultural shift helped a Nepal village keep migrating wild elephants at bay
The heavy thud against the glass window sent Krishna Bahadur Rasaili’s heart racing. Stepping outside, he saw his granary lay in ruins, and an elephant was feasting on his hard-earned paddy harvest. For years, this has been a terrifying reality in Bahundangi, a village along Nepal’s eastern border with India along the Mechi River. Wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), following their ancient migratory routes, frequently storm farms, devour crops and even ransack granaries.
How a Nepali village learned to live with migratory wild elephants
Once the epicentre for human-elephant conflict, an eastern Nepal village along the Indian border has transformed into a model of coexistence. Village residents, once fearful, have adopted elephant-resistant crops and beekeeping, and through a rapid response team, they safely guide elephants away. Government policies, conservation efforts and shifting community attitudes have significantly reduced fatalities, with no deaths reported in the area since 2015.
How a Nepali border village learned to live with migratory wild elephants
Once the epicenter for deadly human-elephant conflict, an eastern Nepal village along the Indian border has transformed into a model of coexistence. Villagers, once fearful, have adopted elephant-resistant crops and beekeeping, and through a rapid response team, they safely guide elephants away. Government policies, conservation efforts and shifting community attitudes have significantly reduced fatalities, with no deaths reported in the area since 2015.
HT Syndication: A house divided
Nepal, Jan. 25 -- Leo Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina', a romantic tragedy set in 19th-century tsarist Russia, opens with a timeless declaration: "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." This sentiment encapsulates the central theme of Basanta Basnet's Nepali novel, 'Simsara', which explores the emotional turmoil of a dysfunctional family in Nepal's eastern hills.
A house divided
Leo Tolstoy’s ‘Anna Karenina’, a romantic tragedy set in 19th-century tsarist Russia, opens with a timeless declaration: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” This sentiment encapsulates the central theme of Basanta Basnet’s Nepali novel, ‘Simsara’, which explores the emotional turmoil of a dysfunctional family in Nepal’s eastern hills.
Indian Media’s Misinformation Fuels Hate at Home and Across Borders
On December 2, 2024, a storm of misinformation sweeping across South Asia ignited a shocking act. Following the arrest of monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu mob vandalized the Bangladesh diplomatic compound in Agartala, India. The monk, formerly associated with the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was charged with sedition over alleged disrespect of Bangladesh’s national flag.
What’s behind Nepal’s pivot away from India?
Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s upcoming visit to China signals a strategic shift in Nepal’s foreign policy: the Himalayan nation seems to be inching closer to Beijing as frustrations with New Delhi simmer. While the visit (December 2-6) highlights Nepal’s growing engagement with China, it also reflects the complexities of balancing its traditional ties with India.
Fact-check: Claims of Sand Dredgers Crashing Into a Bridge in Nepal Floods Are Misleading
A video clip, allegedly showing sand dredgers crashing into a bridge over a flooded river, has been widely shared on social media. Some YouTube users have claimed that the footage depicts recent floods in Nepal, which resulted in the deaths of over 220 people, with 25 still missing. The disaster caused significant economic losses in the largely mountainous country.
One woman’s fight to save lives in Nepal
As the Karnali River swells with monsoon rains, Parbati Gurung, 55, navigates a treacherous path down to its soggy banks. She then diligently records the water level of Nepal's longest river, a vital waterway that carves through the mountains before flowing into the Ganges in India. Inside a small concrete shed perched precariously close to the river, she cross-checks her manual measurements with data from a radar logging device.
Old Photos and Videos Falsely Shared Following Deadly Nepal Plane Crash
A Saurya Airlines plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu airport on July 24, 2024, killing 18 people, including airline engineers and management staff. In the wake of the disaster, misleading information began circulating on social media, with users sharing outdated photos and videos falsely claiming to show the crash. On July 24, 2024, an X user named @ChoudharyTany posted three video clips and two images with the hashtags #nepal #kathmandu #planecrash.
From Ayodhya to Janakpur: How Indian Hindu nationalism crossed into Nepal
Ayodhya/Kathmandu: On a blistering afternoon in the north Indian town of Ayodhya in early April, Mahant Kamal Nayan Das—a white-robed seer and a spokesperson of the Ram Temple Trust—spoke on the expansion of Hinduism before an audience of saffron-clad devout Hindus. The articulate 75-year-old preacher at one of Ayodhya’s most prominent temples, Mani Ram Das Ki Chavani, where more than 500 sadhus live, seemed particularly concerned about neighbouring Nepal.
TikTok Post Claiming Deputy Mayor’s Support for Lamichhane Is Misleading
A video has been circulating on social media purportedly showing Kathmandu’s deputy mayor, Sunita Dangol, endorsing Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane amidst calls for his resignation. Lamichhane, also the chair of Rastriya Swatantra Party, has faced allegations of misappropriation of cooperative funds during his tenure as the managing director of Galaxy 4K Television. The opposition Nepali Congress has been pressuring him to step down over these allegations.
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Social media is flooded with AI-generated images. Here’s how to detect them
TikTok posts falsely claim arrest of Arzu Rana Deuba in India
Arzu Rana Deuba, a lawmaker from the Nepali Congress, recently traveled to New Delhi, the capital of India. However, her trip sparked unverified news reports in mainstream media and misinformation on social media. TikTok users claimed that she was arrested in New Delhi over her alleged involvement in a Bhutanese refugee scam.
On a wing and a prayer
Posted On: 2024-03-01 Posted By: Deepak Adhikari Health & Lifestyle Real Estate & Construction EKantipur.com Newspapers Nepal, March 1 -- The jeep swiftly navigated the winding turns to ascend Sarangkot in Pokhara. While this wasn't my first visit to Sarangkot-I had previously witnessed sunrise painting the Machhapuchhre and Annapurna peaks. However, today felt a little different. I was there for a new adventure, a departure from my usual comfort zone.
On a wing and a prayer
Deepak Adhikari The jeep swiftly navigated the winding turns to ascend Sarangkot in Pokhara. While this wasn’t my first visit to Sarangkot—I had previously witnessed sunrise painting the Machhapuchhre and Annapurna peaks. However, today felt a little different. I was there for a new adventure, a departure from my usual comfort zone. Naturally, I was also a little apprehensive and nervous. Here I was, older and perhaps slightly wiser, yet still battling the butterflies in my stomach.
Countering climate misinformation
The world hoped the COVID-19 pandemic's misinformation crisis would end with vaccine rollouts. Instead, it morphed into a new strain: climate misinformation. Despite scientific consensus, climate deniers peddle falsehoods fueled by fossil fuel giants, political agendas, and disinformation networks. This misinformation isn't confined to social media. Due to inadequate science reporting in mainstream media, false claims sometimes find their way into news reports inadvertently.
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