Kathmandu - Thousands of people were displaced from their homes in eastern Nepal after flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains inundated their villages, media reports said Thursday.

More than 1,500 houses were partially underwater in Saptari and Sunsari districts, about 400 kilometres east of the capital, forcing residents to seek refuge elsewhere, the Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.

"Over two dozen villages were inundated by floods triggered by continuous rainfall since Tuesday evening," the newspaper said. "The houses were under one metre of water which destroyed foodstuffs, clothing and other material."

Officials said about 9,000 people were affected by the floods in eastern Nepal.

Kathmandu, July 24: India has congratulated Nepal's President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and Vice President Paramananda Jha after they assumed their respective offices.

President Pratibha Patil has sent a letter congratulating President Yadav.

In her message, Patil said, "Your election as President represents a new chapter in Nepal's historic democratic transition. I am confident that Nepal will progress further on the path of peace, democracy and development."

"We attach the highest priority to further developing our close and multi-faceted relationship with Nepal," she added.

India's Vice President Hamid Ansari also congratulated Vice President Paramananda Jha.

Kathmandu, July 23 : Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is all set to tender his resignation to newly elected President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav after the latter is officially sworn-in.

According to Nepalnews, Koirala will tendering his resignation today to pave the way for the formation of a new Government, a day after he accepted latter''s resignation from the post of General Secretary and general member of Nepali Congress.

Kathmandu, July 23 : The Maoists have said that they will now stay away from the process of forming a new Government in Nepal.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said the decision was made by the party central secretariat to stay away from the next government after the Constituent Assembly (CA) members ''rejected'' Ram Raja Prasad Singh in Presidential run-off election.

Nepali Congress (NC) candidate Dr Ram Baran Yadav bagged 308 votes while Ram Raja Prasad Singh ended up with 282 votes. 

Kathmandu, July 23: Nepal's Foreign Ministry will begin its work from the Narayanhity Palace from Sunday.

Kathmandu, July 23: Nepali Congress (NC) candidate, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, will be sworn-in as the first President of the Republic of Nepal today.