Bhandari was resting along with other staffers of United Nations peace mission at Byblos hotel based in Mali's capital Bamako last Friday when they gunmen attacked, international media have reported. According to Reuters, the influence of the Islamic militants has been rising. Two Ukrainians, a Nepali, a South African and a Malian were killed in the attack.

The agency has informed that the gunmen primarily took hostages of the United Nations staff. The information regarding the dead was given Saturday morning after a 24-hour long fight. According to AFP, an Islamist extremist group called Macina Liberation Front (FLM) has been linked to the attack.

Hikmat Thapa, coordinator of Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), Africa, said that he confirmed the death of Bhandari with his relative residing in America. “Bhandari’s relative Shriram Subedi informed that Bhandari worked in Liberia under Shree Airlines before he left for the United Nations mission,” Thapa said. He also added that more information regarding Bhandari has been trying to be extracted from “MINUSMA”, a United Nations mission in Mali.