Film Journalist Dinesh Sitoula Passes Away

Kathmandu, Jan 31 —
Film journalist and former president of the Film Journalists Association Nepal (FJAN), Dinesh Sitoula, has passed away. He died at 12:45 pm on Friday while undergoing treatment at Grande International Hospital in Kathmandu, according to a hospital statement.

Sitoula had collapsed and lost consciousness while participating in an election campaign in Achham for senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah (Balen). He was immediately airlifted to Kathmandu by a Nepal Army helicopter and admitted to Grande Hospital for emergency treatment.

In its official statement, the hospital said that despite intensive care, there was no improvement in his neurological condition even after 48 hours. Tests showed no signs of recovery of brain function. As per medical protocol, an apnea test was conducted, which returned positive, indicating the absence of spontaneous breathing. He was declared dead at 12:45 pm.

Doctors confirmed that Sitoula had suffered from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a severe and life-threatening type of brain bleeding.