UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has decided to cut short his visit and return to Kathmandu following the death of former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala.

Dahal, who was in Dhankuta to attend his party programme, will fly to Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press meet in Dhankuta district, Dahal said he was shocked upon hearing Koirala’s demise and termed it a big loss to the nation.

During my recent discussions with him, we dwelt upon the challenges of implementing the constitution, Dahal said. It is a big loss not only for his party but for the nation as a whole, he added.

Koirala breathed his last in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.