SURUNGA: Jhapa's senior journalist and Purbanchal daily's Editor-in-chief Madan Dhakal passed away at the age of 65 on Thursday night. Dhakal, who was suffering from diabetes and kidney ailment, died during the course of treatment at Charpane-based PT Birta City Hospital and Research Centre in Birtamod. The journalist was born in Anarmani VDC-1 of Jhapa district on June 1, 1952. He went on to become Jhapa's successful littérateur and novelist. He became an editor of a newspaper in 1967 and also joined education sector in 1971. The journalist Dhakal, a former member of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), is also its central council member. He is survived by his father, wife, son, brothers and sister.