CHITWAN: Prithviman Gurung, former Chief of Gandaki Province, passed away at the age of 76 on Saturday morning after a long battle with cancer.

Nepali Congress Chitwan President Rajeshwar Khanal confirmed that Gurung died at his residence in Dibyanagar, Bharatpur.

Born in 2006 BS in Lwangghalel of Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality, Kaski, Gurung was appointed as the Chief of Gandaki Province on Shrawan 12, 2078 BS by then-President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

During the split in the Nepali Congress, he served as the District President of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) and also chaired the Squatters’ Problems Commission in Nawalparasi.

He was the nephew of martyr Hari Prasad Gurung, who was killed during the Chitwan Movement in 2018 BS.

His final rites will be performed after the arrival of his son from Canada.

According to Nepali Congress leader Dal Bahadur Gurung, his son is expected to arrive in Nepal on Sunday morning, and the cremation will be held later that day at Devghat.

Gurung is survived by his wife and one son.