Multiple Election Officials Die During Election Duties Across Nepal

Kathmandu. Raghunath Mahato, who was deployed at the Basic School Polling Center in Jigadwa, Parsa Rural Municipality-4, Sarlahi, for the House of Representatives election, suddenly collapsed on Tuesday. The 42-year-old senior auxiliary nurse, Mahato, a resident of Rautahat, was rushed to the hospital by his colleagues deployed for the election. He died during treatment at the Provincial Hospital, Malangwa. Mahato was a resident of Madhav Narayan Municipality-6, Rautahat. He was working as a senior auxiliary nurse at the Basic Health Center, Barahathwa, in Barahathwa Municipality-5, Sarlahi. His body was sent for post-mortem at the Provincial Hospital. The cause of his death has not been determined.

In Kanchanpur, election police officer Mansingh Rana fell unconscious while cooking on the night of Falgun 18. The 35-year-old Mansingh Rana, deployed at the Jibanshakti Basic Polling Station in Sita Basti, Purnabas Municipality-9, died at Nisarga Hospital in Dhangadhi, according to DSP Hem Bahadur Shahi of the District Police Office, Kanchanpur. He suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes.

Three election police officers have died in Baitadi within a period of one month. Those who died include 38-year-old Rajendra Prasad Bhatta, 38-year-old Mahadev Wad, and 32-year-old Prakash Chand.

Chand, a resident of Dasharathchand Municipality-3, died after falling from a cliff while returning after completing his election security duty. The other two collapsed unconscious and died during treatment, Police Spokesperson (DIG) Abi Narayan Kafle told Ratopati.

According to Kafle, 11 election police officers deployed for the security of the House of Representatives election and one Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) died in accidents.

On Falgun 18, ASI Parshuram Yadav died when the vehicle with registration number Na. 7 Kha 6768 met with an accident in Siruwari, Ramechhap Municipality-2, Ramechhap. The District Police Office, Ramechhap, stated that his body was sent to his home district, Rupni Rural Municipality-1, Saptari, after the post-mortem.

Eleven election police officers, recruited for 40 days of government service, lost their lives during election security duties. The Police Headquarters reported one death in Rupandehi, two in Bara, one in Mahottari, and one in Nawalparasi.

On Falgun 18, 24-year-old Pawan Kumar Shah, an election police officer, died after being hit by a vehicle in Makwanpur. Shah, a resident of Rautahat, was deployed at the Area Police Office, Pashupatinagar.

In Ramechhap, 57-year-old Returning Officer Dor Prasad Ghimire died in a vehicle accident while heading to distribute ballot papers. He was traveling from Manthali to Shitaldevi Secondary School, Siruwari, and the Ward Office Building in Ramechhap Municipality-3. The deceased Ghimire resided in Bhainseshwar, Manthali Municipality-1.