Woman aged 112 says her secret to long life is smoking 30 cigarettes a day

Batuli Lamichhane took up smoking when she was 17 - and is still going strong almost a century later 

 

A 112-year-old woman claims the secret to a long life is smoking - after she's puffed away on 30 cigarettes a day for the last 95 years.
Batuli Lamichhane was born in March 1903 - and took up smoking when she was 17.
And she claims it's her daily habit that has helped her outlive almost everyone else in her village - and her own children.
She said: “I dont really care how old I am. But I am old nonetheless. I have seen a lot of things change during my lifetime."


But despite her age, Batuli continues to be a chain smoker. She smokes as many as 30 cigarettes a day.
"I have been smoking for over 95 years. There is nothing wrong with smoking,” she says.

 

Chain smoker: Batuli started puffing away when she was just 17

Batuli's added advice on smoking is to avoid 'commercially made' cigarettes. Instead, she recommends locally made ‘beedis’ - tobacco wrapped in tendu leaf.
Batuli’s husband deserted her eight decades ago after he migrated to India in search of a job.

 

Stress free: Batuli says she stays active and stress-free as much as possible

Her eldest son is 85-years-old and has great grand kids. The other four have passed away since.


Batuli's speech is mostly incoherent, but the great grandmother manages to do her chores all by herself.
Following the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal earlier this year, the roof of her house caved in. Since then, Batuli has refused to be relocated to a relative's.

 

Family: One of Batuli's sons is still alive and is now 85-years-old

She lives off donations made by a local Hindu temple.
The strong woman believes that there is a secret to living a long life.
"People of this modern age have too much stress. And those who do not work or are idle in their old age won’t live long. So you have to be active and stress free,” she professes.


“You should always be happy, then you will live a long life.”