KATHMANDU: Former Minister Moti Prasad Pahadi, who was infected with COVID-19, has died in the course of treatment on Thursday.

Originally from Nepalgunj Sub Metropolitan City-10, Pahadi,77, died in the course of treatment at Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj at 1:40 am.

Diabetic and high blood pressure-ridden septuagenarian had been in home isolation after getting infected with COVID-19. He was hospitalized after his oxygen level suddenly dropped on Wednesday.

Despite a slight improvement in health, his condition deteriorated on Wednesday midnight and passed away on early Thursday, said Dr Prakash Thapa, the in-charge of the hospital.

Pahadi had become Law Minister and then the Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation during the premiership of Sher Bahadur Deuba in 2053 BS.

His funeral rites will be performed today itself, said Tej Wali, the resource person of the District COVID-19 Crisis Management Center.