Following a two-week-long controversy, family members of Baburam Thapa, 34, who died at a temporary coronavirus-specific hospital in Butwal, claimed his body on Wednesday.

Thapa’s family members, who had accused the hospital administration of negligence in treatment, reached a consensus with the provincial government 11 days after Thapa’s death. They had refused to accept the body, saying the hospital had delayed Thapa’s treatment.

Thapa, originally from Ribdikot Rural Municipality in Palpa, had returned from the UAE following the global coronavirus crisis. A week after he returned, Thapa was taken ill with cough and fever, and was suspected of carrying the novel coronavirus. He was pronounced dead before his test result was released. He tested negative. Thapa’s wife, Rita, 27, had accused the district administration of delaying his test and refused to collect his body until authorities investigated his death and provided the family with relief.

Following a meeting with the family members, members of the Social Development Ministry agreed to provide Rita with a job and fund the education of their two sons up to grade 12. Moreover, the ministry also agreed to establish a relief fund of Rs840,000 in Thapa’s name.