The Birgunj District Prison is struggling with overcrowding and inadequate health services, with over 1,300 inmates crammed into a facility built for 1,000, including several foreign nationals.
Prison Chief Khimraj Bhusal said management has become increasingly difficult due to the excessive number of inmates. Although authorities have long discussed shifting the prison to a larger facility, the plan remains stalled.
Compounding the problem, the prison’s doctor post has remained vacant for years, leaving a health assistant to handle medical needs. Bhusal said seasonal illnesses are common, and inmates with serious conditions must be referred to Narayani Hospital.
Stakeholders have urged the government to immediately deploy a medical officer for regular health checkups inside the prison.
