The government has announced a public holiday on Tuesday to mourn the death of Veteran culture expert and historian Satya Mohan Joshi. Phanindra Mani Pokharel, spokesperson at the Home Ministry, said that it has also been decided to fly the national flag at half-mast in all the government offices, public organizations and associations and diplomatic missions abroad to mourn the death of veteran litterateur. Joshi passed away at the age of 103 on Sunday.

He breathed his last during the course of treatment at the Gwarko-based Kist Medical College at 7: 09 am yesterday.

According to a source at the hospital, he passed away at 7: 09 am today. Joshi, who had been suffering from prostate and heart-related ailments for the past many years, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital on October 10. Joshi was also suffering from pneumonia and was also found infected with dengue during the blood test. Earlier, he had announced to donate his body to the hospital after his death. Although Joshi’s health condition looked like it was improving in the initial few days of his hospitalization, it deteriorated later on. The KIST Medical College had been providing Joshi and his spouse free medical treatment.