Ganesh Nepali, the 25-year-old man who set himself on fire outside the Department of Passports in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu, has died while undergoing treatment at Bir Hospital on Friday, police said.

Superintendent of Police Pawan Bhattarai, spokesperson for the Kathmandu District Police Range, confirmed the death.

Ganesh’s elder brother, Madan, said the hospital had informed the family of his brother’s death. The hospital has yet to make an official announcement.

Nepali, from ward 1 of Soru Rural Municipality in Mugu district, succumbed to his injuries while being treated in the hospital’s Burn Intensive Care Unit. Doctors had earlier said he was on a ventilator.

The government had postponed plans to transfer him to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi after doctors treating him advised that he was too unstable to be moved.

The government had completed preparations for an air ambulance and arranged his transfer from the Indian airport to AIIMS, with the state announcing that it would cover all medical expenses. Home Minister Sudan Gurung had personally overseen preparations for the evacuation, while Nepal Police and traffic police were deployed overnight to clear the route to the airport.

However, doctors changed their recommendation after Nepali’s condition deteriorated. They warned that transporting him in such a critical condition could further endanger his life.

A 21-member specialist team led by Dr Peeyush Dahal, head of Bir Hospital’s Plastic Surgery Department, had been treating him. The team included burns unit chief Dr Apar Lamichhane, critical care specialist Dr Nirman Gyawali, anaesthetist Dr Jaya Prakash Thakur, Professor Dr Raviram Shrestha and nursing staff.

Nepali was admitted to the hospital’s emergency department at around 3pm on Thursday.

A ride-hailing driver, Nepali had been living in Kathmandu while preparing to seek foreign employment in Dubai and studying for government service examinations. His family said he had become increasingly distressed by repeated encounters with Kathmandu Metropolitan City police while working.

A week before the incident, he had messaged his nephew saying the metropolitan police had locked his motorcycle and fined him Rs1,000 while he was collecting goods.

According to police, Nepali set himself on fire after his motorcycle was wheel-locked by metropolitan police for obstructing public movement. Metropolitan police officials said he refused to pay the fine, and the incident occurred as officers were preparing to remove the vehicle.

His family, however, blamed repeated fines and pressure faced by economically vulnerable workers for worsening his distress.

Nepali’s elder brother had said he was able to speak briefly after reaching the hospital and blamed metropolitan authorities for what happened. His family said he was the main earner for his wife and young daughter and had moved to Kathmandu from Mugu in search of better opportunities.