KATHMANDU, April 21: Kapil Shahi, a youth of Raute community, who has been suffering from burn injuries for the last one year, has been hospitalized at Trauma Center.

Kapil had sustained third-degree burn injuries while huddling around fire at Piyalathda of Achham in the cold month of Poush in 2073 BS.

He was hospitalized at Trauma Center on Thursday. Kapil who sustained injuries to his arm, backbone and stomach was brought to Kathmandu for treatment.

He was brought to Kathmandu at the initiative taken by Dipesh Pun, son of Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun and Lok Dahal, general secretary of Non-Resident Nepalese Association, Belgium Chapter.  

Dr. Luc Beaucourt, engineer duo Raf Verheyen and Van Hoof Miguel had provided financial assistance for Kapil’s treatment and transportation.

Raute community hesitate to go to hospital as they still believe in shamanism and herbal medicine.  Kapil is the eldest son of Bir Bahadur Shahi, the head of Raute Community.

Kapil’s father Bir Bahadur has also arrived in Kathmandu for his son’s treatment.

Chronic burn injuries have turned severe after Kapil did not receive treatment in time. A medical team from Belgium including Dr Luc Beaucourt, had reached Brindasaini of Dailekh. Raute Commnity had agreed to take Kapil to Kathmandu after Dr. Beaucourt convinced them that his treatment was impossible in the village.

Kapil is undergoing treatment from a medical team led by Dr Piyus Dahal at Trauma Center.

According to Apar Lamichhane, who is involved in Kapil’s treatment, his condition is critical. He has to undergo surgery. Unfortunately, Kapil is not only the sufferer in Raute Community. There are many other Raute members groaning with pain due to lack of treatment.

It has been a year since the daughter of Ein Bahadur Shahi, chief head of Raute Community, contracted illness.  According to Dr Beaucourt, her condition is also critical.

Satyadevi Adhikari, chairperson of Raute Utthan Pratisthan, believes that other Raute members could come to hospital for treatment if Kapil was returned home treated.

Raute Community, with a population of around 152, are still living a nomadic life in Bindrasaini jungle of Dailekh.

 
• burn-injured raute youth
 
• trauma center
 
• kapil shahi
 
• hospitalized