BUTWAL: Former Member of Parliament (MP) and Nepali Congress leader Surya Prasad Pradhan passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 74.

Leader Pradhan, who collapsed all of a sudden at his residence in Butwal last night, was immediately rushed to the Lumbini Zonal Hospital in Butwal where he breathed his last at 6:15 am today, according to Laxmiraj Regmi, the Information Officer at the Hospital.

Born in 1940 in Pang of Parbat district, Pradhan migrated to Butwal in his mid twenties. He forayed into politics with the Bhadra Abagya Aandolan, one of the prominent political movements in the country, staged in 1957. Later he was elected the Mayor of Butwal and then MP in 1999.

Late leader Pradhan played a crucial role in the overall development of the Rupandehi district. He is credited for his contribution for the construction of the Blood Transfusion Centre in Butwal, the Lumbini Zonal Hospital, the Siddhartha Women and Children Hospital Amda, Lumbini Commerce Campus, the Sidhartha Gautam Buddha Campus and Butwal Multiple Campus among other educational and medical institutions in the district.

Pradhan is survived by his spouse and a daughter. His mortal remains has been kept at the ground of the Butwal Multiple Campus for the public to offer tributes.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel expressed deep sorrow over the demise of party leader and senior philanthropist Pradhan.

In a condolence message, Poudel stated that the entire Nepali Congress party and especially the party’s Rupandehi chapter has suffered a big loss in Pradhan’s demise. “Pradhan’s role in strengthening the party organisation and in the movement for the establishment of democracy and its reinstatement would be always remembered,” Poudel stated.

Praying for the eternal peace of the departed soul, the NC Vice-President also extended heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family.