KATHMANDU: As many as 17 journalists have died from COVID-19 in the line of duty in the country so far.

A total 850 journalists have been infected from COVID-19 in Nepal.  Out of 250 active cases, 40 journalists are undergoing treatment at various hospitals while the rest are doing time in home isolations. Of the active cases, the condition of eight journalists is critical.

According to the Federation of the Nepali Journalists (FNJ), the deceased are Banarasi Barma, Vikram Shakya, Bishnu Chaulagai, Sitaram Barma, Mahendra KC, Damodar Adhikari, Kamal Mishra, Sant Raut, Manoj Chaudhary, Ganesh Poudel, Rama Yadav, Shanti Ram Karki, Laxman Basnet, Hikmat Chaudhary, Dinesh Dahal, Krishna Prasad Ojha and Sushil Lama.

Meanwhile, the FNJ has demanded with the government to arrange a special relief package for the journalists hit by the COVID-19.