KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has paid tribute to former member-secretary of National Sports Council (NSC) and former ambassador Rukma Shumsher JB Rana who passed away last night.

PM Deuba, also the Nepali Congress (NC) President, reached the Battisputali-based residence of the late Rana and paid his final tribute by offering garland and draping the party flag over his body.

Rana passed away at the age of 85 last night, shared his daughter-in-law Anil Keshari Shah. His last rites will be performed at Pashupati Aryaghat today, Shah informed.

NC senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel, former general secretary Prakash Man Singh, and central leaders including Dr Shekhar Koirala, Dr Minendra Rijal, Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat and Udaya Shumsher Rana reached the residence to offer him final respect.

Rana has been afflicted by kidney-related ailments, diabetes, and high blood pressure. He had been undergoing routine dialysis after a kidney transplant.

He had seen complications in health all of a sudden last night and breathed his last on the way to the hospital, Shah further informed.

The late Rana was survived by his spouse and a daughter. He has served the NSC twice in the capacity of member-secretary.

He took this portfolio first from 2050 BS to 2051 BS and the second time from 2054 BS to 2055 BS. Rana had also taken the leadership of the Nepal Olympic Committee in 2059 BS. NOC had offered Rana the honorary chair later.

Rana had also discharged the responsibility of the acting chairperson of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and also the chairperson of Nepal Taekwondo Association and Nepal Athletics Association.

The youngest son of Nepali Congress founder leader Subarna Shumsher Rana, Rukma had served as the Ambassador of Nepal to India from 2009 to 2011 AD. Rana was also the partner and managing director of Dabur Nepal – a manufacturing company established in joint investment with India.