Doctors on Thursday afternoon took Nepali Congress General Secretary Shashank Koirala off the ventilator after he showed signs of improvement.

Dr Harish Joshi, medical director of Om Hospital, said ventilator support on which Koirala was put since Tuesday night has been taken off. Even though his condition is critical, he is gradually showing signs of improvement, said Dr Joshi. “His organs are functioning much better than yesterday and this is a good sign,” added Dr Joshi.

A statement issued by the hospital at 6pm stated that his vital signs were also improving and he was responding to verbal commands since Wednesday night.

Koirala was rushed to Om Hospital on Tuesday night after he complained of abdominal discomfort and shortness of breath. Doctors attending to him had said on Wednesday that Koirala suffered “multiple organ dysfunction”, primarily due to aspiration pneumonia, a condition caused when food and other substances are inhaled.

The doctors on Thursday said they had gradually decreased the amount of drugs that were being administered to Koirala.

“Despite signs of improvement, he is still not out of danger and is under the close supervision of a group of consultants,” the press release issued by the hospital added.