NEPAL, TUVALU DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. Kathmandu, 12 Dec.: Nepal and the Polynesian island of Tuvalu have established diplomatic relations. Documents were signed in New York this week at UN Headquarters. nnnn FIREY DAREDEVIL ATTEMPT Kathmandu, 12 Dec.: A 36-year-old’s bid to set a new record today ended up in a disaster, but just for the record, before the story proceeds, one must refrain from doing what this daredevil was trying to. Madan Wagle writes in The Himalayan Times.. Shumsher Bahadur Lamsal of Mirlung, Tanahun, this evening gathered around 5,000 people at Bhadgaun in Byas Municipality to show off his stunt of riding a bike through a 105-metre fire tunnel in 20 seconds and set a new world record. But the plan went awry. Though he managed to jump out of the fire tunnel with a few burns, his two associates — Suresh Panta of Bhadgaun and Sumit Thapa of Parbat — got seriously burnt. Had the daredevil’s luck run out, a tragic ending was certainly on cards. According to Dr Saroj Kandel of Damauli Hospital, Panta and Thapa have received 70-80 per cent burns and have been sent to Pokhara for further treatment. “They were just about to start the proceedings when suddenly fire broke out in the tunnel which was made of dried bamboo sticks and was drenched with kerosene. When they rushed out, they were already engulfed in flames,” said Inspector Ram Kumar Dani. “Police used two fire extinguishers to douse the fire on their bodies.” A Korean motorbike Lamsal was using for ‘his record-breaking purpose’ was slightly damaged, but another one got completely destroyed. The unexpected fire triggered a stampede among the audience as they ran to save themselves from leaping flames. It took about an hour for 45 police personnel and locals to douse the fire. Police have detained Lamsal for his security as well as investigation. Earlier on November 24, Lamsal had made a failed attempt to break the world record of riding a bike through a burning tunnel. Currently, an African national holds the world record for riding a bike through a 103-metre burning tunnel in 23 seconds. nnnn