PANCHTHAR: Phidim Municipality, the district headquarters of Panchthar has declared public holiday for today. The municipality announced the holiday to mourn the death of Phidim Municipality-1 ward chair Harka Bahadur Moktan. Moktan died on Monday evening. He was 72. The holiday applies to municipality office, ward offices, community school and educational institutions without hindering the emergency services, informed Mayor Onahang Nembang. The municipality has also decided to lower the national flag to half-staff as a mark of respect in the municipality and ward offices . Moktan was also the president of Nepali Congress, Phidim.