Kathmandu, May 4: Senior communist leader Nirmal Lama is in a very serious condition. Mr. Lama has been in coma for the last three days and there was no progress in his health since he was admitted to the Teaching Hospital on April 6 after experiencing difficulty in respiration due to a chest infection.

Mr. Lama, who had been suffering for a long time from cancer of the oesophagus had undergone treatment in Bombay, India and at Bharatpur Cancer Hospital, Chitwan.

Since Mr. Lama is experiencing intense pain, he has been given morphine as advised by physicians, president of the United People’s Front (upf) Amik Sherchan said.

It is learnt that his condition further deteriorated today.

The Prime Minister, Ministers, mps and leaders of political parties have gone to the Teaching Hospital to inquire about Mr. Lama’s condition. Every day 500 to 1,000 people are said to visit the hospital to inquire about Mr. Lama’s condition.

His Majesty’s Government has provided the entire cost of Mr Lama’s treatment in Bombay and has further assured him it will bear other costs as well, according to Mr. Sherchan.

Mr. Lama, who gave much importance to the “Singha Durbar Gherao” protest programme called by the United People’s Front on May 1 and said it should be different from others, and who also at one point said he would not die until it was over, was visibly happy at the success of the programme, mp sherchan said.

He fell unconscious a day after completion of the programme, Mr Sherchan added.