16 December 2019, Kathmandu
Last rites of late actor and chairperson of the Film Development Board (FDB), Keshab Bhattarai and cine artist Deepak Chhetri were performed at Pashupati Aryaghat on Monday. Bhattarai died on Sunday at the age of 53 due to cardiac arrest on the way to Om Hospital.
Likewise, Chhetri was found dead in his apartment in Kathmandu on Saturday. Prior to this, mortal remains of Bhattarai and Chhetri were put at the FDB for people to pay their last tribute to them. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed his deep sorrow over demise of Bhattarai and Chhetri.
Likewise, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwor Pokharel reached the FDB and offered his tribute to them. Hundreds of people including cine artists reached the FDB and extended their tribute to them. Central chairperson of the Jana Sanskrit Mahasangh Khagendra Rai draped the flag of the Nepal Communist Party over the mortal remains of Bhattarai.
Speaking on the occasion, Rai said that demise of Bhattarai has caused irreparable loss to the whole cultural sector. Bhattarai is survived by a wife and a son. He worked in numerous Nepali movies in ‘Aafno Manche’, ‘Pahuna’, ‘Karmayoddha’, ‘Dewar Babu’, ‘Chhodi Gaye Pap Lagla’, ‘Simple’ and ‘Yatra’ among others.
Similarly, Chhetri had acted in films including ‘Simana’, ‘Jeevandan’, ‘Chha Maya Chhapakai’ and ‘Seto Surya’ among others. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress has expressed sorrow over demise of Bhattarai and Chhetri. In a message of condolence, NC also extended its condolence to the dead and the bereaved families.
Chief Secretary of the NC central office, Krishna Prasad Poudel in the message of condolence said that demise of Bhattarai and Chhetri has caused an irreparable loss to the entire Nepali film industry. Likewise, the NC has expressed sadness over demise of freedom fighter Balaram Nayak of Sabaila-2 in Dhanusha district and founding central member of NC affiliated Nepal Student Union, Chitra Bahadur Karki.
