Did family brawl trigger Nepal crown prince's heart attack?

A family feud that resulted in the massacre of Nepal's king Birendra and his entire family made an unpopular prince the new heir to the throne. Six years later, another raging family quarrel could have triggered Crown Prince Paras' massive heart attack last week, say royal family sources.

The 36-year-old, who had to be rushed to Kathmandu's leading cardiology centre Thursday for an emergency heart operation, had had a turbulent time before the heart attack after a family dinner turned into a raging brawl.

Two days earlier, on Tuesday, the crown prince had had a stressful day. The morning had begun with a golf tournament in the luxurious Le Meridien hotel and golf resort to contribute to the prime minister's welfare fund for Nepal's flood victims.

In the evening, a poolside dinner at the same venue was hosted for select royal relatives by the father-in-law of a royal cousin.

At the dinner, Puja and Dilasha, the two daughters of prince Dhirendra, Birendra's younger brother who too perished in the royal palace massacre in June 2001, had an intense argument.

The two sisters reportedly fought over a priceless family heirloom, a Venetian chandelier that was apparently sold to a buyer in India for a fabulous sum of money.

As the dispute grew fierce, Paras and his wife, Crown Princess Himani, tried to intervene and separate the two sisters, with little avail.

The brawl went on till the small hours of Wednesday, after which the shaken royals departed.

It could have been the late hour and tension that contributed to the severe pressure the crown prince is already under, facing an election in November that could see the abolition of monarchy.

Also, according to doctors, he carries a legacy of high blood pressure, a high cholesterol level and a family history of heart problems.

After the family fight, the royal relatives are said to be in a state of apprehension, fearing that the news would become public.

After an emergency angioplasty at Kathmandu's Norvic-Escorts International Hospital Thursday, the crown prince's condition is now stable, doctors said.

His family has been asked not to broach any subject before him that can cause him tension and to encourage him to meditate and switch over to health food.

(IANS)

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