Fifteen people have died and one remains missing after an avalanche struck the Himlung Himal region of Manang district on September 27, 2026. Separately, Prime Minister Balen Shah’s government has unveiled 15 major achievements from its first six weeks in office, spanning disaster response, administrative reforms, and digital governance.
Avalanche Tragedy and Government Achievements
The avalanche, which occurred in Manang, Gandaki province, affected a 27-member team. While 11 individuals were rescued, 15 fatalities have been confirmed, and 38-year-old Pasang Nuri Sherpa from Okhaldhunga remains unaccounted for. Search operations are ongoing for Sherpa.
Prime Minister Shah’s administration highlighted its accomplishments on Friday, October 2, 2026. The achievements cover a range of sectors including disaster response, administrative reforms, digital good governance, infrastructure development, foreign affairs, and public service delivery. The government also recommended to President Ramchandra Paudel the conclusion of the current federal parliament session, which ended on Friday.
Economic Updates and Policy Directives
Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank, has introduced a new Rs 1,000 banknote featuring enhanced security features. The central bank’s overall balance sheet has surpassed Rs 4 trillion.
Meanwhile, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) closed at 2,587.25 points on Friday, October 2, 2026, marking a decline of 11.90 points with a turnover of Rs 4.29 billion.
The estimated economic growth rate for the fiscal year 2082/83 (ending mid-July 2026) is 3.85 percent. Consumer price-based inflation stood at 5.14 percent in mid-July 2026.
The nation’s total foreign exchange reserves reached Rs 3897.67 billion (USD 25.31 billion), sufficient to cover 19.6 months of goods and services imports. Remittances saw significant growth in the fiscal year 2082/83, increasing by 37.1 percent in Nepali Rupees and 28.1 percent in US Dollars.
The Ministry of Education has issued a directive warning community school teachers against participating in political party programs, threatening disciplinary action for non-compliance.
In Kathmandu, police arrested 250 individuals (227 men, 23 women) with various criminal backgrounds for creating disturbances and disrupting public peace within a 24-hour period.
Separately, a section of the Jalunge bridge in Dodhara Chandani, Sudurpashchim province, collapsed last Wednesday (September 30, 2026) due to floods in the Mahakali River, halting traffic for 100 days.
Regional Developments and Upcoming Events
Nepal’s national cricket team, led by captain Sandeep Lamichhane, is set to participate in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 in Oman, starting October 7, 2026, where they will play against Canada and Oman.
The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Western Australia chapter is organizing ‘Nepal Festival Perth 2026’ on October 10, 2026, at Wellington Square in Perth.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dolprasad Aryal, is preparing to address Nepal’s disaster and climate change issues at the 153rd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tanzania, with a parliamentary delegation departing on Sunday.
Authorities in Kanchanpur, Sudurpashchim province, have urged residents along the Mahakali River to remain vigilant as water levels are expected to rise from 1 AM on Saturday, October 3, 2026, to 1 AM on Monday, October 5, 2026, due to the opening of the Dhauliganga Hydropower Project dam gates in Uttarakhand, India, for 48 hours.
Unresolved Issues
The search for Pasang Nuri Sherpa, missing since the Manang avalanche, continues.
Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has described Prime Minister Balen Shah’s activities as mysterious, though further details were not provided.
Tourism Minister Khadakraj Paudel attributed the poor state of Nepal Airlines to past political interference, but no specific investigations or solutions have been announced.
The decision regarding the repair of the Jalunge bridge in Dodhara Chandani is pending after an inspection by an expert team from Kathmandu.
