KATHMANDU, Aug 23: A Nepali family in Dang has suffered a double tragedy after a 22-year-old son died in Kathmandu and his 38-year-old mother died after learning of his death.
Romharsha Kalathoki, who is working in Malaysia to support his family, lost his eldest son, Basanta Kalathoki, who was studying a language course while staying at Valley Boys Hostel in Shankhamul, Kathmandu.
Basanta was seriously injured during a dispute with other hostel residents on Friday. He was allegedly beaten and attacked with a sharp weapon and a stick. He died while undergoing treatment at the Civil Service Hospital in Baneshwar.
The news of Basanta’s death reached his family in Dang, following which his mother, Bina Kalathoki, died by suicide, according to Ram Lautan Chaudhary, ward chairman of Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City-17.
“Her son had died after a fight among friends in Kathmandu. When she heard the news, she could not bear it and took her own life,” Chaudhary told Republica.
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Romharsha and Bina have two sons. Basanta was their eldest, while their younger son, Shishir Kalathoki, is 11 years old and was staying with his mother in Dang. Romaharsha was in Malaysia when the two deaths occurred and is now returning to Nepal.
According to Chaudhary, the family plans to perform the last rites of both Bina and Basanta after Romaharsha returns to Nepal.
“There is no one else here now. The 11-year-old boy cannot handle it. So the funeral will be held after his father arrives,” he said.
Chaudhary said he did not have clear information about reports that Basanta had been preparing to go abroad for studies.
Meanwhile, police have detained seven people in connection with Basanta’s death and are investigating the incident. Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Thapa, spokesperson for the Kathmandu District Police Range, said those allegedly involved had been arrested.
“The people involved have been arrested,” Thapa told Republica. Police were preparing to issue a detailed statement on the incident later in the day.
Basanta’s body has been kept at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for a postmortem. Police said the body would be taken to Dang after his father returns from Malaysia.
Bina’s body has been kept at the mortuary of Rapti Academy of Health Sciences.
Chaudhary has called for a thorough investigation into Basanta’s death and legal action against those responsible.
“The investigation must move forward. He has died, but those who caused his death must face legal punishment,” he said.
The Kalathoki family is from a modest economic background. Chaudhary said the ward would seek support from the municipality to help the family with the funeral and other expenses, as the ward itself has limited funds.
“We don’t have much budget at the ward level. We will seek support from the municipality and resolve the problem in whatever way possible,” he said.
