Guinness World Records officials said Thursday they will measure a 72-year-old Nepali man who recently made himself public claiming to be the world’s shortest man.

Measuring just 22 inches and weighing 12 kilograms, Chandra Bahadur Dangi, 72, stood at a news conference in Birtamod, Jhapa on January 30 and claimed the world’s shortest man title. He said that he was not noticed “for living in the remotest region of the district and having no access to communication”.

"We intend to travel to Mr Dangi's village to officially measure him and are currently making provisions for medical professionals to assist us in the verification," Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday told AFP.

"We cannot confirm Mr Dangi's height until formal measurements have been taken and verified by Guinness World Records officials but we hope to undertake the verification in the next few weeks," said Glenday, who is to make the journey to impoverished Dang district.

The record of the world’s shortest man is currently held by Filipino Junrey Balawing who measures just 23.5 inches. He took the title from another Nepali, Khagendra Thapa Magar, who was measured in 2010 at just over 26 inches. nepalnews.com