BUTWAL, April 22: The body of Sudip Neupane, a young man from Butwal who lost his life in a terrorist attack while traveling in Kashmir, India, will be brought home on Thursday.
Sudip Neupane, 26, a resident of Mankamana Path, Kalika Nagar of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City-11, was tragically shot while sightseeing in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on Tuesday afternoon. He died on the spot.
Chief District Officer of Rupandehi, Basudev Ghimire, said that Sudip’s body was transported from Delhi to Lucknow on Wednesday evening and will reach Bhairahawa–Butwal by road early Thursday morning.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, his body was flown from Srinagar to New Delhi at 5 PM Wednesday and later to Lucknow at 9:30 PM. From there, arrangements were made to bring him to Nepal via ambulance.
After reaching the Belahiya border through Gorakhpur and Sunauli, Sudip’s body will be formally handed over to his family. His relatives have already gathered at the border to receive him.
"We expect that Sudip’s body, along with his family members, will arrive at Belahiya border early Thursday morning," CDO Ghimire said.
Soils under Threat
Sudip had set out from home last Saturday for a week-long family trip to Jammu and Kashmir with his mother Rina Pandey, sister Sushma, and brother-in-law Yubaraj.
During the unfortunate incident at Pahalgam, he lost his life. His mother Rina, who witnessed the tragedy unfold before her eyes, sustained minor injuries while trying to flee, family members shared.
According to Indian media, citing security officials, the group was reportedly questioned about their religion by armed assailants before shots were fired. Sudip’s driver's license was recovered from the scene.
Just days earlier, Sudip had left home with a beaming smile, excited to explore new places. The news of his untimely death has plunged his family and community into deep mourning.
"He had told us about his plans to visit Delhi and Jammu-Kashmir for a week. None of us could have imagined such a heartbreaking end," said his friend, Abhishek Pokhrel.
Sudip was the only son of his mother and the only brother to his sister. Butwal’s Mayor, Khelraj Pandey, expressed profound sorrow at the loss of a young man who had aspired to make meaningful contributions to Nepal’s health sector.
"It is deeply painful that a promising young Nepali citizen, who wished to serve his country, lost his life abroad. We strongly condemn the incident and urge the government to provide support and compensation to the grieving family," Mayor Pandey said.
Following his parents' separation a few years ago, Sudip had been living with his mother and sister in their home on Mankamana Path, Kalika Nagar. Earlier, they had resided in Belbariya, Butwal-14. His father is a school teacher.
Raised by his mother, Sudip completed his Secondary Education Examination (SEE) at Horizon Boarding School in Butwal and went on to study Health Assistant courses. He later pursued a Bachelor's degree in Public Health at Kathmandu’s Teaching Hospital, according to his uncle Mahasharma Pandey.
"Sudip completed his Bachelor's in Public Health in Kathmandu," his uncle shared. Although he initially planned to start his career in Kathmandu, Sudip decided to return to Butwal to be closer to his mother.
Even after returning home, he remained dedicated to his profession, believing he could contribute to the community’s health sector. He had recently been working in the field of oral health at Adhunik Samaj Dental.
Locals have voiced their sorrow, lamenting that a young man who dreamed of improving rural dental and oral health in Nepal lost his life during what was meant to be a joyful family trip.
