Rai, publisher of Hong Kong-based ‘Everest Weekly’, dies after falling off cliff

Khotang: Kisan Rai, the Chair of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Hong Kong chapter, died after falling off a cliff in Khotang on Sunday evening.

The 53-year-old journalist was the publisher and editor of Hong Kong-based Nepali newspaper the ‘Everest Weekly’.
Originally from Okhaldhunga, Rai was the permanent resident of Dharan Sub-metropolis-15 and had been practising journalism from Hong Kong for the past two decades.

He suffered the tragedy at around 5:30 pm near the Pankhukhola at Dorpa of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality-8 as he was on the way to Bhojpur from Khotang.

As District Police Office’s information officer police inspector Sagar Sah said, it has been learnt that journalists Rai arrived here on tour with the former Armed Police Force officer of Nagarjun municipality-2, Kathmandu. It has been confirmed that he fell 200 meters down from the cliff as he got off a vehicle near the Pangkhu Stream and was in search of a place to defecate. He died on the spot, according to the police.

Three persons including the former APF officer and a driver are in the District Police Office in course of further investigations into the issue. They had used a private vehicle for travelling.

Rai was the former general secretary of Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) Hong Kong, existing chair of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, Hong Kong and former chair and incumbent advisor of the Kirant Rai Yayokhkha, Hong Kong.

The body has been kept at the District Hospital, Diktel for post-mortem examinations and police are waiting for the arrival of his relatives from Hong Kong to perform an autopsy.

It may be noted that the Hong Kong government honoured him with this year’s ‘Chief Executive Commendation for Community Service’ award.

He is survived by his mother, spouse and two sons.