KATHMANDU, March 13: It has been revealed that Deepak Bahadur Dhami of Bajhang, who is unwell, was denied transportation service by Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) from Malaysia to Nepal.

Despite completing all necessary procedures with the assistance of the Nepali Embassy in Malaysia, the NAC employees declined to transport Dhami on various pretext.

According to Prabin Paudel, president of the Nepal Returnee Association, the sick passenger and his attendant were turned away three times from the airport in Malaysia after purchasing tickets and preparing all necessary documentation. Today, they are scheduled to arrive in Nepal via Himalayan Airlines.

Dhami, a 32-year-old resident of Bajhang’s Kedar Municipality Ward No. 7, who had been working in Malaysia for the past 19 months, was set to return to Nepal due to mental health issues. However, NAC employees insisted that proper procedures for transporting an ill passenger had not been followed, thus refusing to allow Dhami and his attendant to board the flight to Nepal three times.

"Despite having boarding passes, passengers stranded at the Malaysia airport due to illness were unfortunately turned away by NAC employees, stating that they could not travel to Nepal without a fit-to-fly medical report. They were instructed to return the next day with additional documents, causing further distress," explained Paudel.

"On their third time to catch their flight after purchasing tickets, airport staff informed them that a medical report confirming their illness from the beginning was required for boarding. Only then would they be permitted to fly with special arrangements," Paudel elaborated.

Paudel further said that even after Ambassador Dilli Ram Paudel made written and verbal appeals for the return of passengers who had completed all necessary procedures and boarding formalities, Nepal Air Service Corporation employees in Malaysia ignored their requests and acted inhumanely.

"Since the NAC is the national flag-carrier, they gave priority to the airlines initially but as the employees themselves acted like doctors and after numerous requests went unanswered, Dhami and his attendant eventually coordinated with Himalayan Airlines employees in Malaysia to obtain the necessary documentation based on the same medical reports, allowing them to return to Nepal," said Paudel.

Family members of the patient have complained that the money spent on tickets purchased three times for their return from Malaysia to Nepal was wasted due to the actions of NAC employees in Malaysia.

 
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