Neighbour

A senior official with the Tehreek-e-Insaf party said Khan was dragged out of the court and into a police vehicle. He said the former premier is now in the custody of the security forces.

Police said those arrested have lived in Nepal for a long time, some since as far back as 2006, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.

A chopper of the Nepal Army had rescued the injured persons and brought them back to Kathmandu for treatment, said Godar.

The deceased in both accidents included children and women, who were going to visit a Sufi shrine in the Sehwan area from the Hyderabad district of the province.

On Thursday, authorities sealed Nepal's border points with India for 72 hours due to the by-election.

Paudel, 78, was admitted to TU Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu on Tuesday. A preliminary investigation has revealed that he had a chest infection.

In its report, the Defence Ministry highlighted the need of holding the elections on the same day in view of the heightened security situation in the country.

The election to appoint new administrations to 340 local councils for a four-year term was postponed since March last year due to the ongoing economic crisis.

The project will connect the port of Kankesanthurai and Puducherry and provide an economical and convenient mode of transportation between the two countries, the Sri Lanka Navy press release said.