SOLUKHUMBU, May 5: Despite access to road connectivity and formation of local governments, the people in Solukhumbu district still struggle for an efficient postmortem service.
As postmortems are conducted only at the District Hospital, Faplu, the people in the remote parts of the district are compelled to airlift the dead bodies to Kathmandu by spending a huge amount of money to charter helicopters. A postmortem is mandatory in any suspicious death including a suicide. However, the villagers in remote areas of the district have to go through many hassles to reach the district headquarters for a postmortem.
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For lack of the postmortem service in their ares, the locals especially those of Sotang, Mahakulung, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu and Likhupike rural municipalities are compelled to spend millions on a postmortem. Even the police have to bear the brunt due to the compulsion to conduct a postmortem. Police Inspector Uttam Karki says that carrying dead bodies to road-connected areas and then traveling for hours to reach the district headquarters is an ordeal.
He stressed that the local government must prioritize the constriction of postmortem centers for solving the problem. Instead of going to the headquarters, the locals of Khumbu area find it more convenient to go to Ramechhap and Sindhuli for a postmortem.
They say it is comparatively less time-consuming and it also saves their spending. After observing the misery of the people, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu has started discussions for the construction of a postmortem center in the local unit. Nigm Sherpa, chairperson of Khumbu, said, "We have been holding discussions on starting the postmortem service in the local unit in coordination with Nicole Niquille Hospital. We understand the misery of the public," said Chairperson Sherpa.
At first, the locals of Jubu and Lokhim villages carry the dead bodies to Salleri on foot by taking two days after which they catch vehicles to Diktel of Khotang. Recently, a building was constructed for the Postmortem Home at the Primary Health Center, Salyan. However, the management team of the center is refusing to receive the building due to its substandard work.
Meanwhile, Sotang Rural Municipality has sanctioned Rs 500,000 from the infrastructure development program for the construction of a postmortem hall at the Primary Health Center, Sotang.
