Pradhan, undergoing treatment at Sanepa-based Vayodha Hospital  for brain haemorrhage, was pronounced dead at 11:05 pm last night.

UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai informed that Pradhan’s body will be kept at UML party headquarters in Balkhu for final tributes and will be cremated later today at Pashupati Aryaghat.

Born in 1927, Pradhan was actively involved in country’s democratic movements .

Married to another veteran communist leader Pushpa Lal Shrestha, she had staged a 15-day hunger strike demanding education to women with the then Rana Prime Minister Padma Shamsher.

Pradhan was appointed as Minister of Commerce and Supplies during an interim government in 1990. She also became Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare in 1996 and Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2005.

She is survived by a son and a daughter.

UML to lower party flag for 3 days

CPN-UML has decided to fly the party flag at half mast for three days to mourn the passing of leader Sahana Pradhan. 

The meeting of the party office bearers held today decided not to conduct any activities of the party for these days. The central committee of the party will organise condolence programme on September 11.

A large number of party cadres have thronged at the party headquarters Balkhu to pay last tributes to late leader Pradhan.

Similarly, the funeral procession has begun from the party headquarters, Balkhu and will reach Aryaghat through Kalimati, Tripureshwor, Jamal, Ghantaghar, Kamalpokhari, Maitidevi, Gyaneshwore, Ratopul and Gaushala. (RSS)