Ganesh Nepali, a 25-year-old ride-hailing driver who set himself on fire outside the Department of Passports in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu, on Thursday afternoon, July 9, died on Friday while undergoing treatment at Bir Hospital, intensifying scrutiny over the circumstances that led to the incident.
Police said Nepali, a resident of Soru Rural Municipality-2 in Mugu district, had suffered burns to more than 50 percent of his body. Despite intensive treatment at the hospital's Burn Unit, doctors were unable to save him.
The government had begun preparations to airlift Nepali to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for advanced treatment. However, the plan was abandoned after doctors at Bir Hospital advised that his condition was too critical for transfer.
According to preliminary information, Nepali sustained the injuries after setting himself on fire during a confrontation with Kathmandu Metropolitan City police over an alleged parking violation.
He had reportedly parked his motorcycle in a prohibited area, prompting metropolitan police to wheel-lock the vehicle. Officials said Nepali refused to pay the fine and allegedly took the extreme step after authorities began preparations to tow the motorcycle away.
The incident has sparked widespread public debate over the conduct of enforcement officials and the handling of disputes during traffic and municipal operations.
Nepali lived in a rented apartment in Bhaktapur with his wife and young daughter. Speaking to the a media outlet on Thursday evening, his elder brother, Madan, said police informed him about the incident and asked him to come to Bir Hospital at around 2:30 pm on Thursday.
"He spoke only briefly," Madan said. "He told me to take care of our mother and father and said all this happened because of the metropolitan traffic police. After that, he could not speak."
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