A 25-year-old man suffered serious burn injuries after setting himself on fire outside the Department of Passports in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu, on Thursday afternoon.

According to police, Ganesh Nepali, a resident of Soru Rural Municipality-1 in Mugu district who was living in Bhaktapur, took petrol from his motorcycle, poured it over himself and set himself on fire at around 1:45pm in front of Gate No. 3 of the department.

Superintendent of Police Dilip Ghimire, chief of the Kathmandu District Police Range, said Nepali had parked his motorcycle outside the department, after which Kathmandu Metropolitan City police personnel placed a wheel lock on the vehicle.

“Angered after his motorcycle was wheel-locked, he took petrol from the bike and set himself on fire,” Ghimire said.

Police personnel rescued Nepali immediately after the incident and rushed him to Bir Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.

Police said Nepali was conscious and able to speak, but had suffered burns to various parts of his body, and his condition remained serious.

He is currently receiving treatment in the emergency ward, and doctors are preparing to shift him to the Intensive Care Unit.

“He has suffered burn injuries to 70 percent of his body,” said Dr Peeyush Dahal, chief consultant plastic surgeon at Bir Hospital.