President Paudel hospitalised after feeling unwell amid meeting with Gen Z leaders
President suddenly complained of headache and vomiting and has been kept under observation for further tests.
Post Report
Kathmandu
President Ramchandra Paudel was admitted to the Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre in Maharajgunj after suddenly feeling unwell during a meeting with Gen Z leaders on Saturday. According to hospital sources, the President complained of a severe headache and vomiting and was immediately taken to the hospital. “His condition is stable, but he has been kept under observation for further tests,” the source said. A total of 22 Gen Z leaders had arrived at the President’s Office, Sheetal Niwas for discussions with the President. Prime Minister Sushila Karki was also present at the meeting. (Source: The Kathmandu Post)
Nepal faces economic dilemma after September Gen-Z protests
Kathmandu, Oct. 12: Amidst the estimated 3-5 per cent loss to the economy due to arson and vandalism of the public and private property and businesses during the Gen-Z movement in September this year, and fear of poor economic performance, apprehensions have begun surfacing about Nepal’s graduation to the ‘Developing Country (DC)’ from the current Least Developed Country (LDC) status. Several business leaders, economists and trade experts suggested seeking a deferral to the graduation in order to buy time to put the country’s economy back on track. While 76 people were killed in the protests, properties worth hundreds of billions were vandalised and set afire during the youth-led movement. According to preliminary estimates of the concerned authorities, damage to the public infrastructure is more than Rs. 103 billion while the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) put the damage to the private properties above Rs. 83 billion. (Source: The Rising Nepal)
Attack on private properties and businesses – including 21 outlets of Bhatbhateni Super Market, international hotel chain Hilton, multinational telecommunication company Ncell, automobile showrooms, Chaudhary Group’s electronics factory, base station of Chandragiri Cable Car, and house of Non-Resident Nepali Association’s founding President Dr. Upendra Mahato – has sent negative message about ‘doing business’ environment in Nepal. Foreign investors, some of whom are at the final stage in making decision to bring in investment here, are now in ‘wait and see’, according to the business community. President of Garment Association of Nepal (GAN), Pashupati Pandey, a foreign investor who was seeking a plot of about 22 bigahas to set-up a garment industry that would employ about 15,000 people has now put his plan on hold. (Source: The Rising Nepal)
Severe weather and travel disruptions in Karnali province
Karnali Province has recorded 51 road crashes during the Dashain period this year, according to Nepal Police data.
Surkhet — On September 29, the Phulpati of Hindu’s biggest festival Dashain, tragedy struck along the Rapti Highway in Salyan district. A Dang-bound jeep from Rukum West crashed near the Chorkhola in Kapurkot Rural Municipality-3, killing four members of a family. Karnali, the country’s remotest province, has recorded 51 road crashes during the Dashain period this year, according to the Nepal Police’s Highway Safety and Traffic Management Office. Nine people died and 123 others were injured in those accidents. In the first three months of the current fiscal year, the province has already seen 216 accidents, resulting in 24 deaths and 494 injuries. Police data show that festival seasons witness the highest number of accidents each year. Most of Karnali Province’s major highways are in disrepair, forcing travelers to take life-threatening journeys during the festival season. Landslides along the Karnali Corridor, Bheri Corridor, Rapti Highway, Mid-Hill Highway and Karnali Highway have left many passengers stranded on their way home for Dashain. (Source: The Kathmandu Post)
Additional confirmations and official statements
Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel was hospitalised on Saturday after experiencing sudden health problems; hospital sources and the President’s Office said his condition was reported to be normal and that doctors were monitoring him. The scheduled dialogue with Gen-Z representatives was postponed following his admission. (Source: The Tribune; myRepublica)
Share Your Thoughts
- How do you think the President’s hospitalisation will affect ongoing talks with Gen-Z leaders?
- What short-term steps should policymakers take to stabilise Nepal’s economy after the September unrest?
- How can infrastructure and road safety in remote provinces like Karnali be improved to protect festival travellers?
- Should Nepal seek a deferral of LDC graduation to prioritise economic recovery, or proceed and manage the transition?