Kathmandu, Oct. 13 -- laced vegetables have once again flooded markets in the Kathmandu Valley, despite repeated warnings from government laboratories about chemical contamination.

On Monday, laboratory tests on round chilli (akabare khursani) detected dangerously high concentrations of harmful chemicals. More than 30 kg of the chilli were destroyed after being declared unfit for human consumption.

According to the Rapid Bioassay of Pesticide Residue (RBPR) Analysis Unit, round chilli samples from Makawanpur contained organophosphate pesticides at 57.07 percent-far above the safe limit. The lab said residue below 35 percent is considered safe, while levels between 35 and 45 percent may be consumable only after a waiting period. Anything...