RUKUM, June 11: There are many highlands in Rukum (West) where people do not really have to seek permission from any authority to pick Yarsa, a prized medicinal fungus. However, various committees are exercising monopoly by charging entry fees and taxing the Yarsa pickers.

DOLPA, June 7: A week after the reported deaths of five Yarsa pickers in the highlands of Dolpa, three more people have succumbed to extreme cold and high altitude sickness this week.

DOLPA, June 2: Three people who had gone to various highlands of Dolpa to collect Yarsa have died in the last one week due to extreme cold.