Dr Upendra Devkota’s last rites performed (in pictures)

KATHMANDU, June 19: Senior neurosurgeon Dr Upendra Devkota’s last rites were performed at Pashupati Aryaghat on Tuesday.

Dr Devkota had passed away in course of treatment at the Bansbari-based Neuro Hospital Monday late afternoon. He was undergoing treatment for gall bladder cancer.

He was cremated through electric crematorium on the premises of Pashupati Aryaghat. Devkota’s funeral pyre was lit by his wife Dr Madhu Devkota and his daughters Medha, Basudha and Manjari.

A huge crowd had gathered at the funeral to offer condolence to Devkota.

Earlier, hundreds of well wishers had reached the hospital to offer final tributes to Devkota. His mortal remains were kept at the hospital premises from 8:00 am till afternoon.

Former Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai who is also a classmate of Dr Devkota reached the hospital to pay last tribute to him. Dr Bhattarai said he lost his childhood friend and classmate and his absence will be hunting me forever.

The state chief of Province-3 Anuradha Koirala said that Dr Devkota had contributed a lot in the sector of health policy reforms. Dr Devkota had served as the Minister for health during the active regime of then King Gyanendra Shah.

Similarly, United Kingdom (UK) ambassador to Nepal Richard Morris said that Dr Devkota was a rare talent in the field of medical sciences. He added that he was honest, laborious and talent person whose absence will be lasting.

Ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit said that Dr Devkota was well disciplined professional doctors who had the patriotic feelings. Kanchhi Thapa who has served Dr Devkota’s families for 27 years, remembers and said that she had no words to describe about him. “He never spoke harshly”, she remembers.

A huge mass from various walks of life had reached the hospital after the sad news of demise Monday evening. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had reached the hospital Monday itself to extend condolences to the bereaved families and to extend last tribute to Dr Devkota.

Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun, speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, former Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Lalbabu Pundit, Minister of State for Health and Population Padma Aryal, Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) leader Bamdev Gautam, general secretary Bishnu Poudel, leaders Subas Nembang, Pampha Bhusal and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Democratic) chair Pashupati Shamsher Rana.

Likewise, Chief of Nepal Army Staff (CoNS) Rajendra Cheetri Neurosurgeon Basanta Sharma, Dr Mohanraj Sharma, and Dr Govinda KC among others paid tributes to Dr Devkota reaching the hospital.