Blast Injures Two in Nepal Ahead of Vote as Authorities Report 142 Arrests

Overview

• A suspicious object exploded near a bridge on the East‑West Highway in Bardibas, injuring pedestrians Sandesh Chaudhary, 17, and Samir Chaudhary, 24, who are in stable condition.
• In Kathmandu, two vehicles were torched and police recovered pamphlets urging a boycott of the House of Representatives election, with two suspects arrested; pro‑monarchist groups and some smaller leftist factions have announced boycott campaigns.
• Police say 142 people have been detained across the country on allegations of attempting to disrupt the electoral process.
• Two members of an election team died when a mini truck carrying polling materials plunged about 150 meters in Ramechhap; the deceased were Assistant Sub‑Inspector R P Yadav and teacher Dor Prasad Ghimire, and seven others were injured and airlifted to Kathmandu.
• No group has claimed responsibility for the Bardibas explosion, and inquiries into the blast and the arson are ongoing ahead of the March 5 vote.