PARSA:- Aug 19: Overcrowding has added challenges to the management issue in Birgunj prison.

Despite its capacity to house 1,000 inmates, there are more than 1,300 jailbirds, including some foreign nationals, in the Birgunj prison, making it tougher for its management. The Chief of District Prison Parsa, Khimraj Bhusal, said they have faced difficulties due to the overcrowded jail.

The District Administration Office and the authorities have planned to shift the prison house to a larger space, but the plan has not been materialised for long. Likewise, the post of medical officer in the prison has remained vacant for several years.

The district prison has one post for the doctor, but a Health Assistant is providing the health care services at present. The stakeholders have raised the issue of the deployment of a doctor in the prison for regular health checkups of the jailbirds.

Bhusal stated that the convicts and prisoners sometimes witness seasonal health issues. For lack of doctors, the patients with serious illness are sent to the Narayani Hospital, he added.