KATHMANDU, Feb 1: Dinesh Sitaula, former president of the Film Journalists’ Association of Nepal and a cadre of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) senior leader Balendra Shah, passed away on Sunday at 12:45 pm while undergoing treatment at Grande International Hospital.
According to a statement issued by Grande International Hospital, Sitaula, 45, collapsed on Friday while participating in Shah’s election campaign in Mangalsen, the district headquarters of Achham. He was initially taken to a district hospital, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed after he became unresponsive. Doctors were able to restore circulation after about 15 minutes, but his condition remained critical and he suffered seizures.
Body of journalist Dinesh Sitaula taken to TU Teaching Hospital...
He was later airlifted by a Nepali Army helicopter to Kathmandu and admitted to Grande Hospital, where he arrived in an extremely critical condition. The hospital said Sitaula had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3, the lowest possible, with fixed and non-reactive pupils, indicating severe neurological damage. He was immediately admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and placed on ventilator support under the care of critical care and neurosurgery teams.
Despite intensive treatment and life support, Sitaula showed no neurological improvement over the next 48 hours. Doctors suspected severe hypoxic brain injury, caused by prolonged lack of oxygen to the brain. He also developed diabetes insipidus, a complication commonly associated with serious brain damage.
Following standard medical protocol, doctors conducted neurological assessments, including an apnea test, which confirmed the absence of brain function. Sitaula was declared dead at 12:45 PM, the hospital said, adding that all possible medical efforts were made.
Earlier, Shah had cut short his Karnali Province tour and returned to Kathmandu on Saturday. He visited the hospital and met Sitaula’s family members including his brother Umesh Sitaula, but was unable to meet Sitaula due to his critical condition. Doctors had earlier informed the family that his condition was complex and under constant evaluation.
