KATHMANDU, MAY 19

Former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Nepal Police, Ramesh Kharel has been hospitalised following severe case of COVID-19. Kharel in currently on ventilator support in ICU at the Nepal Police Hospital in Maharjgunj.

"His condition had worsened by the time he first arrived at the hospital. We carried out necessary tests and admitted him in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) immediately as he was experiencing difficulty in breathing," said Dr Achyut Bikram Hamal, who is leading the team involved in the treatment of former high profile officer.

As per his CT scan report, the virus has severely significantly affected his lungs, the doctor said, adding, he was then shifted to Non-invasive Ventilation (NIV).

Dr Sanjay Bikram Shrestha, Spokesperson of the Hospital said, "He is responding well to the treatment and his condition is stable and normal at the moment". If he continues to recover at the current rate, we will shift him back to high care unit within a few days.

After pre-maturely resigning from his post in April 2018, Kharel had launched an anti-corruption campaign -- Our Nepal Good Governance Campaign -- and has been actively involved in the same ever since.

Kharel, had resigned a day after the government promoted DIG Sarbendra Nath Khanal to the top post.