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BAJURA, JULY 9

Lokshari Kunwar of Bajura's Budhiganga Municipality, a burn victim who was critically injured, couldn't afford treatment, and was stranded, has been discharged following treatment.

Earlier, The Himalayan Times online and print editions had run a news report about the plight of the 23-yearold burn victim who could not be treated due to lack of fund and was stranded at Bayalpata Hospital for days. After a news report was published about Lokshari's plight, she was rescued from the hospital in Achham with the money donated by different philanthropist organisations and persons.

Medical Rehabilitation Organisation and BVS-Nepal (Burns Violence Survivors) had helped by covering the expenses of Lokshari's accommodation and treatment during her treatment at Patan Hospital in Lalitpur. Following her successful treatment, Lokshari was discharged last month and is now receiving physiotherapy.

According to Medical Rehabilitation Organisation Chairperson Samrat Singh Basnet, Lokshari is now receiving physiotherapy care from the organisation. "After we learnt about her condition from the newspaper, we rescued her from the hospital in Achham to Lalitpur and helped in her treatment in collaboration with BVS-Nepal," Basnet said.

Due to lack of fund, Lokshari was stranded for as long as eight days at the Bayalpata Hospital before she was rescued.

"Though the hospital had told us to take her elsewhere for treatment, we couldn't, apparently due to lack of money until some kind people and organisation, came to our rescue," said Lokshari's husband Ekendra Kunwar, adding that he and his family were very happy for the support they received for her treatment. "Some 38 per cent of her body was burnt and doctors at Patan Hospital had said there was 40 per cent chance of survival. We are happy she is safe now due to the efforts of the doctors," he said.

Lokshari was burnt while she was cooking food in her kitchen on May 17. An epileptic patient, she had passed out while cooking rice and was burnt until her family finally found out and rescued her. She was immediately rushed to Bayalpata Hospital. Though she was given some treatment there, the hospital had referred her elsewhere for further treatment.

But her family couldn't take her elsewhere due to lack of fund and she was left stranded at the hospital for some time.

Finally, after a news report was published about her condition, with the help of Budhiganga Municipality and Health Coordinator Dipal Shah, she was taken to Dhangadi in an ambulance on May 25. From there, she was taken to Kathmandu in another ambulance.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 10, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.