Overcrowded and Neglected

The recent death of 46-year-old Jaleshwar Yadav at Jhumka Prison in Sunsari has thrown a glaring spotlight on the dire conditions of Nepal’s jails, also known as correctional facilities. Yadav, who was awaiting trial in a rape case, fell ill with a fever and developed breathing problems, ultimately passing away while being treated at the district hospital. The incident follows three inmate deaths at the same prison last week, which exposed major problems with prison healthcare systems, security, and prisoner welfare standards. Jhumka Prison has another alarming problem: it houses 1,798 prisoners who need urgent healthcare attention. Thirteen critically ill inmates were shifted to BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, while others remain feverish under round-the-clock monitoring by health teams from Inaruwa and Dharan. While efforts have been made to monitor the sick and provide medicines and healthcare, the sheer number of patients points toward a serious lack of an effective prison health system.