Kathmandu

Thinle Lhondup, who received international recognition for his performance in the Oscar nominated film Caravan (Himalaya), passed away at the age of 72 on April 24.

According to his close relative Pema Wangchen Dolpo, Lhondup succumbed to his injuries after falling from a cliff in Dolpa district.

“He (Lhondup) was on the way to his village (Saldang in Upper Dolpo) from Dunai on a horse. On the way, he fell from a cliff that was over 400 feet high along with his horse. The horse died immediately while he was seriously injured,” Dolpo said about the tragic incident.

Lhondup, also a social activist, was rescued by trekkers who provided him the first aid. Family members in Capital were preparing to send a helicopter to fly Lhondup here when the news of his death arrived, as per Jitendra Jhakri, who arranges helicopters for rescue operations in Upper Dolpo. Lhondup died at around 5:00 pm.

“The body will be brought to Kathmandu for post-mortem on April 25. After that his last rites will be performed as per the Buddhist rituals in Teku,” Dolpo informed.

Lhondup was also a cancer survivor. “He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2005/6. But he had won the battle over cancer after treatment, and was leading a normal life. His health was in good condition since 2010,” Lhondup’s family friend Nagendra Budhathoki shared.

Lhondup was also featured in the music video of Nepathya’s Sa Karnali. And the band’s frontman Amrit Gurung, who had met Lhondup a couple of times, remembers him as a “bold man from the mountains”.

“I used to call him kaka (uncle). He was a bold man from the mountains, who used to say things on your face. He was radiant, and a good and honest person.”

सम्साँझै काग कराइराहेको छ...

थिन्ले काकाको याद आइरहेको...

सम्झनामा रहिरहनेछौ... pic.twitter.com/gyEZt1B3E6

— Amrit Gurung (@amritnepathya) April 24, 2016

Post Caravan film, Lhondup was involved with Caravan Hostel in Boudha. He had been taking care of underprivileged people of Upper Dolpo for the last seven years.

In winter he used to live in Kathmandu, and resided in Upper Dolpo in summer. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.