Kathmandu, March 28 -- After a year of living in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic, Nepalis were bracing themselves for a second wave from India, when they were hit by an unexpected disaster:wildfires that have shrouded the countryin a pall of smoke for days.

The two crises have converged with the suspension of Nepal's Covid-19 vaccination drive after Indiabanned the export of the AstraZeneca Covishield doses.

Two days after the Ministry of Health warned citizens about wearing masks, washing hands and avoiding crowds to defend themselves against a coronavirus surge, it issued another statement on Saturday telling people to stay indoors to avoid thehazardous haze,and not to venture out unless urgent.

It did not look like people in Kat...