Kathmandu, September 6, 2007

Crown Prince Paras had a major heart attack today after complaining of acute chest discomfort and severe sweating at around 9:30 in the morning. Senior consultant internist Dr Shyam Bahadur Pandey and cardiologist Dr Kishore Rana of Norvic hospital were rushed to Nirmal Niwas where they performed an ECG (Electrocardiogram) on him.

Paras was then rushed to Norvic-Escorts International Hospital at 9:40 am, where he underwent the diagnostic procedure of Coronary Angiography (CAG), which confirmed a 95 per cent blockade (due to fat accumulation) in his right Coronary Artery—a condition considered severe.

A team of cardiologists, including senior doctors Bharat Rawat and Yadav Bhatta, then performed an emergency plasty (a mechanical widening of narrowed blood vessels, where a balloon is inserted to open the blockage in the artery) and Stenting (using a split to clear obstruction) within 50 minutes of his arrival at the hospital.

Normally angioplasty is done within 90 minutes of the patient’s arrival. “He had no chest pain or any discomfort after the angioplasty,” Ravi Chaudhary, Senior Manager at Norvic, told this daily. Dr Pandey said, “His condition is stable, but he has to be kept in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) at least for another two days and in the hospital for another three days, if things are uneventful.”

However, a severe heart attack patient has to be kept under observation for at least 20 to 48 hours before it can be determined whether his condition is stable or not.

Hundreds of Nawalparasi families displaced in floods

Nawalparasi, September 6, 2007

Hundreds of families have been displaced while dozens of villages are inundated after swollen rivers burst banks and entered the villages in the district.

The flooding triggered by heavy rainfall has also blocked the Nawalparasi section of East-West Highway. Floods swept away a 10-metre long section of the highway at the Choramara jungle area in the district, bringing traffic on the Narayangarh-Butwal section to a halt.

The Kawasoti area police office said large parts of Ramgram municipality and VDCs like Pithauli, Argyoli, Kolhuwa, Narayani, Kawasoti, Shivmandir, Gaindakot, Paklihawa, Guthiprasauni, Pratappur, Bhujhawa and Rampur Khadauna are submerged.

The APO said 58 Musahar families of Bote Tole in Argyoli VDC were displaced after floodwaters from the Narayani River entered their settlement. Former VDC secretary Kedarnath Ghimire said they have been shifted to safer places.

Around 32 families of Logai in Pithauli VDC 8 and 20 families of Narayani VDC have also been displaced. While property was damaged in the flood, there were no reports of human casualties.