Kathmandu, June 19

Renowned neurosurgeon Dr Upendra Devkota, who passed away yesterday, was cremated at the electric crematorium in Pashupati Aryaghat today. Dr Devkota was suffering from bile duct cancer.

His mortal remains were kept at Neuro Hospital in Bansbari for family, friends and public to pay their last tributes to him before cremation. Friends and well-wishers had gathered at the hospital to pay tribute to Dr Devkota.

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has extended condolences to Dr Devkota’s family. The president’s Chief Personal Secretary Bheshraj Adhikari visited the hospital today and conveyed her condolence to Dr Devkota’s spouse and daughters. The president, in her message, said Dr Devkota’s death had caused an irreparable loss to the country.

Likewise, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli visited Neuro Hospital and paid tribute to Dr Devkota. The PM also expressed condolence to Dr Devkota’s family members.

Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun, Defence Minister Ishwar Pokhrel, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, former PMs Madhav Kumar Nepal and Baburam Bhattarai, former speaker Subash Chandra Nembang, Province 3 Governor Anuradha Koirala, among others, also paid their final respects to Dr Devkota.

Former PM Bhattarai shared that Dr Devkota was his classmate at Amar Jyoti School in Gorkha and Amrit Science Campus in Kathmandu. “He made a great contribution to the health sector,” he said. Minister of State for Health Padma Aryal said the country had lost a neurological expert.

Bir Hospital closed its out-patient department for half day. According to Dr Bhupendra Devkota, director at Bir Hospital, the hospital closed its OPD services for employees to attend Dr Devkota’s funeral.