EAM Swaraj calls on Nepalese President

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is in Kathmandu to attend the funeral of former Nepal prime minister Sushil Koirala, met the Himalayan nation's President Bidya Devi Bhandari here today.

Swaraj, who is leading an all party delegation to Nepal, paid homage to Koirala at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu earlier today.

Koirala died of cardiac arrest after suffering from a bout of pneumonia in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

Koirala will be honoured with a state funeral and cremated on Wednesday. Nepal has declared Wednesday a public holiday.

The Government of Nepal expressed shock over the untimely demise of the former prime minister and offered its heartfelt condolences on his death.

'Nepal government will always remember the contribution of Koirala in the promulgation of the new constitution,' said a press statement issued by Prime Minister's K.P. Oli's office after a Cabinet meeting.