Kathmandu, April 26 -- On Friday afternoon, 21-year-old Kanchan Mandal was brought to the burns unit at Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital in Sankhu, all the way from Dharan. Her heavily bandaged body, covered in an orange saree, was carried out of the ambulance, as her family members looked on, dazed and tired after the long journey from the eastern city. Mandal had burns over 85 percent of her body--half of her face and everything below her shoulders were burnt.

Less than two hours into treatment, Mandal succumbed to her injuries. Doctors who treated her said that losing the crucial 24 hours after the burns resulted in her early death.

"If she had been brought in earlier, maybe she would have lived for another few days," said Dr Rojina ...