The Chief Minister of Sudurpashchim Province, Kamal Bahadur Shah, is scheduled to inaugurate the Lamkichuha Provincial Hospital, leading to increased security in the area. The 15-bed hospital’s handover had sparked a dispute between Chief Minister Shah and Mayor Sushila Shahi, resulting in the hospital being locked down temporarily. In anticipation of possible protests from Mayor Shahi’s supporters, police forces have been deployed at the hospital premises to maintain order. May 27, Kailali.
The inauguration is planned for this morning, with a significant police presence already established before the Chief Minister’s arrival. The provincial government and the municipal authority have yet to reach an agreement on operating the 15-bed Lamkichuha hospital. Last month, the Provincial Social Development Ministry assigned Dr. Kamlesh Prasad Yadav, the Medical Superintendent, along with two other staff members to the hospital. However, Mayor Shahi contested the hospital’s handover to the province and instructed the staff not to report for duty, amplifying tensions.
This disagreement escalated to the point where the hospital was locked down on April 13, causing unrest in the Lamkichuha region. Although the province has completed all procedural steps and allocated the budget to establish the provincial hospital, the municipality’s refusal to hand over the facility has prolonged the conflict. Due to this internal strife between the Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah and Mayor Sushila Shahi, both representing the same region, there are concerns that supporters of the mayor might initiate protests or obstruct the inauguration. Consequently, security has been intensified since early this morning around the hospital.
