KATHMANDU: Veteran musician Amber Gurung was put on ventilator from the wee hours of Friday as his health deteriorated.

The 78-year-old Gurung is undergoing treatment at the Dhapasi-based Grande International Hospital.

The composer of Nepal’s national anthem was rushed to the hospital on Monday after he witnessed problems in his food pipe due to its obstruction.

Gurung's son Raju Gurung told the Rastriya Samachar Samiti that he was put on the ventilator as he suddenly fell unconscious at around 1:30 am today.

"But now, his heartbeat is good and we have applied medicines to increase blood pressure," Dr Raju Paudel told the RSS, "Though he opens his eyes occasionally, he is yet to regain full consciousness."

Gurung, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease also, had undergone treatment for oesophagal tumour in Gurgaon-based Medanta Hospital some months ago.

He returned home in the last week of March.