KATHMANDU, MARCH 19

The wife of senior captain of Nepal Airlines Corporation Rakesh JB Rana, who recently died of a massive heart attack, has filed complaints against the doctors at Nepal Medical Council and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, accusing them of negligence.

The complaints were filed at NMC on March 17 by his wife Pushpa Rana seeking action against heart disease specialist of NMC, Rishi Khatri, and Rajeeb Kumar Deo, former civil aviation medical assessor of CAAN.

According to Pushpa, the sheer negligence of Khatri and Deo was to be blamed for the untimely death of her husband. 'During his regular health checkup based on the guidance of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, Khatri issued negative treadmill test report that led us to believe that my husband was not suffering from any kind of heart-related ailment,' she said. 'However, when we consulted other doctors, we were told that the report showed he needed further medical investigation,' she added.

She has requested the NMC to take action against Khatri for not fulfilling his responsibility.

Pushpa has also stated that CAAN renewed late captain Rana's licence and allowed him to fly based on the 'fit to fly' report issued by Deo. Citing professional negligence of Deo, Pushpa has demanded that NMC revoke his licence.

Deo had tendered his resignation on February 16 after he was accused of overlooking medical reports of the senior captain at the national flag carrier.

Deo, who worked as CAMA for the CAAN's Flight Safety Department, had submitted his resignation to the CAAN director general.

The Himalayan Times, on February 9, had reported that Deo had overlooked the TMT and echocardiography reports of NAC senior captain Rana. He passed away after suffering a massive heart attack on November 25. He was 62.

The late captain's daughter, Reewa RL Rana, said the NMC had assured the family that an independent committee would be formed to investigate the case.

The NMC has also promised an impartial investigation and has told the diseased pilot's kin that action will be taken against the wrongdoers. A version of this article appears in the print on March 20, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.