Conservationists have been raising concerns about the dire situation of wildlife in Bardiya National Park due to water shortage.

Last year’s survey in the national park found five of these critically endangered ground-nesting birds, which are now confined to Nepal, India and Cambodia.

Police said they have found crucial evidence against the suspect, and he will remain in custody until the investigation is complete.

The project experiences a funds crunch after outstanding dues to the contractor assigned to build the canal were settled with this fiscal year’s budget.

The Tulsipur High Court had found the 17-year-old guilty of raping a minor girl from the municipality in June last year.

The body of the deceased was recovered from under a suspension bridge in Majhera in ward 10 of Rajapur Municipality on Saturday.

A 16-year-old boy and a 24-year-old man were arrested on separate charges of raping minors in Bardiya district.

The 12-year-old was mauled by the feline while walking alone near the Bairiya-based Jira Community Forest on Saturday.

The man was suffering from asthma and hypertension, police say.

A 32-year-old woman and three kids died while another 28-year-old was injured in the fire that broke out late on Saturday.

The critically injured 25-year-old died in the course of treatment in the district hospital, said police.

A total of 15 people have lost their lives to tiger attacks on Khata bio-corridor in the past four years.

The boy has been charged with rape, and the man has been charged with helping the accused and orchestrating the rape, police said.

The body of the 52-year-old was recovered from the Samjhana Community Forest on Friday afternoon.

There are 4,802 households along the 24-km pathway between the Bardiya National Park and bordering Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary of India.