A rural municipality in Raipur of Rupandehi of Lumbini province on Sunday declared a public holiday after a relative of its vice-chair died.

Issuing a notice, Marchawari Rural Municipality chair Gaya Prasad Barai said that all government offices, schools and other organisations would remain closed to mourn the death of a person who is a brother-in-law in relation of Asha Singh, vice-chair of the rural municipality.

Singh’s “brother-in-law” died in a road accident on Sunday, says the notice.

Expressing condolences to the family of the deceased, the rural municipality has said all schools, government offices and other organisations would remain closed for one day on Sunday.

Marchawari Rural Municipality is one of the 10 rural municipalities in Rupandehi district in Lumbini.

According to its website, it is one of the most under-developed rural municipalities, with a population of 38,776 as per the national census 2011.

“Since everyone from the rural municipality is going to attend the funeral, we decided to close offices,” said Barai.