KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal has announced that it will fully cover the medical expenses of Ganesh Nepali, a 25-year-old ride-sharing driver who attempted self-immolation in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Nepali, originally from Mugu, is currently in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Bir Hospital.

According to the prime minister’s secretariat, the government is making immediate technical and logistical arrangements to airlift Nepali to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, India, for specialized medical care.

The incident occurred around 1:45 PM on Thursday outside Gate 3 of the Department of Passport in Tripureshwar.

Nepali extracted petrol from his motorcycle’s fuel tank, poured it over himself, and set himself on fire following a verbal altercation with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City police, who had locked his vehicle’s wheel over a parking dispute.

Nearby police personnel acted quickly to douse the flames with water before rushing him to the hospital.

Medical staff at Bir Hospital reported that Nepali sustained severe burns covering approximately 60% of his body, heavily impacting his face, head, neck, chest, and arms.

Doctors noted that his condition deteriorated rapidly after admission, and the next 24 to 72 hours remain highly critical due to extreme risks of infection, respiratory complications, and fluid loss.

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung alongside members of the Prime Minister’s secretariat visited Bir Hospital yesterday to assess Nepali’s health status and expedite the transfer process.

During the visit, the delegation consulted with the attending medical team to review the patient’s current condition and treatment progress.

Following the medical consultation and recognizing the severity of the injuries, the officials directed the relevant authorities to ensure that all administrative and logistical preparations are swiftly completed to facilitate his immediate relocation to the specialized facility in India.