KATHMANDU, JULY 10
Ganesh Nepali, the 25-year-old man who sustained critical burn injuries after attempting self-immolation outside the Department of Passports in Tripureshwor on Thursday, died during treatment at Bir Hospital on Friday.
Kathmandu Police spokesperson SP Pawan Bhattarai confirmed the death, while hospital authorities were yet to issue an official statement.
Nepali, a resident of Soru Rural Municipality-1 in Mugu, had suffered burns to around 55-60 per cent of his body, including his face, head and neck. He was placed on mechanical ventilation shortly after being admitted to Bir Hospital's Burn Centre due to severe respiratory complications caused by the burns.
A 21-member multidisciplinary team led by Dr Piyush Dahal, coordinator of the hospital's Plastic Surgery Department, had been treating him. The government had also arranged to airlift him to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for specialised treatment and pledged to bear all medical expenses. However, doctors advised against an immediate transfer, saying his condition was too unstable for travel.
Nepali had poured petrol over himself and set himself on fire outside the Department of Passports on Thursday afternoon. He was rescued from the scene and rushed to Bir Hospital.
According to police, Nepali had been living in Bhaktapur with his wife and daughter and worked as a ride-sharing driver. Initial reports indicate the incident occurred after a dispute related to his motorcycle, which had reportedly been wheel-clamped by Kathmandu Metropolitan City police.
Police said further investigation into the incident is underway.