Insurance regulator eases claims for flood-hit life policyholders, Kantipur reports

Insurance regulator tells insurers to ease payments to flood-hit life policyholders, Kantipur reports

The Insurance Authority has issued an eight-point directive telling insurers how to make payments easier for life policyholders hit by the Bhotekoshi flood of Bhadau 10 (August 26), Kantipur reported on Tuesday. None of the other reports read for this digest carried it, and the directive's own text has not been published where it could be read.

Policyholders affected by the flood get up to six months of grace, free of interest, on premiums and policy-loan instalments, according to the report. Insurers may also use their own copy of a policy when the original was lost, and must hand out copies free of charge.

Two points deal with the dead and the missing. A claim on a death can rest on a recommendation letter from the body or official authorised to certify a flood death or disappearance. For an insured person who is still missing, the insurer pays the death claim once the claimant signs a letter accepting legal action if that person turns up alive.

The report gives no date for the directive. It also leaves open when the six months start, from the flood or from the directive, and it sets no deadline for claims.

This is a different step from the Authority's September procedure for property claims, which waived reporting deadlines and cut paperwork, Republica reported then.

Why it matters: Claims from the flood came to Rs 20.98 billion by Asoj 12 (September 28), of which only about Rs 6.75 million had been paid, Kantipur reported on September 30. No newer total has been reported, and the directive's report does not say how many life policies are involved.

Standard Chartered Bank Nepal's board proposes a 16 percent cash dividend

Standard Chartered Bank Nepal's board has proposed a cash dividend of 16 percent of paid-up capital, or Rs 16 a share, OnlineKhabar and OnlineKhabar English reported on Tuesday. The reports mention no bonus shares.

Last year the bank paid 19 percent in cash, proposed in October 2025. This year's proposal still needs clearance from Nepal Rastra Bank and the annual general meeting's approval. No meeting date has been set.

Nepal Infrastructure Bank's first-quarter profit falls 20 percent

Nepal Infrastructure Bank earned Rs 166.4 million in the first quarter, down from Rs 208.5 million a year earlier, as net interest income fell 7.7 percent to Rs 344.2 million, OnlineKhabar English reported from its unaudited results.

NEPSE edges up 0.94 points as hydropower stocks lead and turnover rises

NEPSE closed at 2,630.76 on Tuesday, up 0.94 points or about 0.04 percent from Monday's 2,629.82, according to ShareSansar's market page and Kantipur. Turnover was about Rs 5.8 billion, up from about Rs 4 billion on Monday, OnlineKhabar English reported.

Hydropower led, up 1.65 percent. Microfinance, mutual funds and the others group also rose and the rest fell, Kantipur said. Life insurance fell furthest, by 0.59 percent.

The gain won back a small part of Monday's 4.34-point fall in the first session after Dashain, Kantipur reported then. None of the reports gave a reason for the move.

Trekking permits for high-risk areas suspended for October 29 to 31 ahead of forecast snow

The Department of Immigration will suspend trekking permits for high-risk areas from Thursday to Saturday, October 29 to 31 (Kattik 12 to 14), OnlineKhabar English reported on Tuesday evening. It said permits for those areas had stopped being issued with immediate effect. The reason given is a forecast of heavy snowfall, snowstorms and avalanches in the high Himalaya.

The report names no areas. Nor does it say what happens to permits already issued or to trekkers already on the trails.

In Manang, the District Administration Office told trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit to take great care, Kantipur reported. That is an advisory, not a ban. The weather department's bulletin of heavy rain from Kattik 11 to 15 had been reported on October 24.

Flower growers' association puts Kathmandu Valley's Tihar flower trade at Rs 645 million

Floriculture Association Nepal expects the valley to use about 5.18 million garlands this Tihar, worth Rs 480 million, and puts all flower sales at Rs 645 million, The Kathmandu Post and Kantipur reported.

Lamjung and Ramechhap farmers hurry to bring in paddy before forecast rain, Kantipur reports

About 15 percent of Lamjung's paddy has been harvested, Kantipur reported. In Ramechhap, where last year's Kattik rain damaged more than 87 hectares, farmers fear a repeat, Kantipur said.