KATHMANDU: A total of 27 jailbirds died in the last six months across the country due to various diseases.

Director General at the Department of Prison Management, Hari Prasad Mainali, informed that most of the deaths were due to old age.

The central jail in Kathmandu has been providing healthcare services to inmates inside the prison. Patients, who are in need of further treatment, are referred to government hospitals such as the Bir, TU Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Mental Hospital and Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center.

Currently, there are some 21,000 inmates throughout the country. Around 3,000 are being detained in the central jail.