Their Majesties King Gyanendra and Queen Komal (File Photo)

Their Majesties King Gyanendra and Queen Komal (File Photo)
Their Majesties King Gyanendra and Queen Komal arrived in Pokhara on Monday for an informal visit of the western region.

Their Majesties arrived in Pokhara via a special helicopter and are staying at Ratna Mandir Palace.

Their Majesties, on a three week long visit of Pokhara, had returned back to the capital on February 23 to grace the Shivaratri festival.

Their Majesties are scheduled to Myagdhi and Palpa districts during the second part of their visit. The Maoists had launched a massive attack and destroyed various historical monuments in Palpa on January 31. Earlier, before returning to the capital, Their Majesties had visited Sarangakot and offered worship at Rastriya Birat Gyan Maha Yagya on Feb 22.

His Majesty the King will receive information about the security situation and status of service delivery in the region.

Prior to Their Majesty’s visit to Pokhara, His Majesty the King observed various activities displayed by the fourth contingent of the Singhanath Battalion (Peace Keeping Force) of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) at the King Birendra Peace Training Centre, Paanchkhal.

The contingent is leaving for Burundi on a peacekeeping mission at the call of the United Nations.

On the occasion, His Majesty also observed the personal items to be carried by army personnel taking part in the mission, the disarmament and rehabilitation activities and the language resource centre.

In a message to the Battalion leaving for Burundi, His Majesty said there would be continuous commitment on behalf of Nepal in all the efforts made by the United Nations for world peace.

Chief of the Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Kuber Thapa and Chief of the King Birendra Peace Training Centre Lieutenant Colonel Dhiren Gurung briefed His Majesty about the activities related to the Peace Keeping Force.

The team leaving for Burundi will replace the Gorakhnath Battalion. It comprises a total of 850 personnel including 26 officers, 108 JCOs and 736 of other ranks. The Royal Nepalese Army has been deployed in Burundi since 2004.

Currently, 5,650 army personnel from 47 countries are mobilized in the African nation at the call of the United Nations, according to RNA.