Gandaki Provincial Assembly member Bimala Gauchan passed away on Wednesday night. She was 63.

She died while undergoing treatment for dengue at Grande International Hospital in Kathmandu, former Myagdi president of Nepali Congress Resham Bahadur Baniya told the state-owned Rastriya Samachar Samiti.

Gauchan was elected to the provincial assembly through the proportional representation system from the Congress.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba paid tribute to Gauchan and expressed condolence to the bereaved family members.

“Gauchan played an active role in expanding the organisation of Nepali Congress and in Nepal’s movements for democracy,” read a statement issued by the party head office on Thursday. “Nepali Congress has lost an experienced woman leader.”