NEPALGUNJ, July 10: Seven staff members, including the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Thabang Rural Municipality in Rolpa, who had been out of contact for the past three days, have reestablished communication. They got in touch with the office around 7 a.m. on Thursday (today).
The CAO Hemraj Ghartimagar informed Republica Rural Municipality Chairperson Rishi Keshav Budhamagar over the phone that they were safe. Chairperson Budhamagar confirmed that all the staff members, including Officer Ghartimagar, are now back in contact.
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"At 7:05 am this morning, the chief officer himself called me and said, ‘We are in Gulmi district and returning to the office today,’” Chairperson Budha told Republica over the phone. “When I asked him why his phone had been switched off for so many days and what the issue was, he hung up. There has been no contact with him since."
Earlier, CAO Ghartimagar had also contacted Rolpa’s Chief District Officer, Basudev Dahal, and informed him that they were safe.
The COA Ghartimagar, along with Assistant Administrative Officer (fifth level) Harish Majhi, Assistant Accountant Yagya Prasad Kandel, Sub-Engineer Chandra Prakash Oli, Nisha Acharya, Water Supply, Sanitation and Technician Shiv Kumar Oli, and driver Pradeep KC had been out of contact. On Wednesday, Thabang Rural Municipality Chairperson Budhamagar had even issued a public notice urging them to get in touch.
When Republica tried to contact COA Ghartimagar regarding the matter, he did not answer the call. According to Chairperson Budhamagar, Ghartimagar, a resident of Rolpa, has been serving in the rural municipality for about 32 months.
