Rajgir/Patna: A Sri Lankan tourist died of a suspected heart attack in Rajgir, Bihar, on Monday while climbing towards the Vishwa Shanti Stupa.
The deceased was identified as Dhanpal Mannage (74), son of Parana Mannage and a resident of Colombo. He had arrived in India on September 13 with an 87-member tour group and reached Bodhgaya on September 19 before travelling to Rajgir.
Police said that at around 6:30 a.m., while climbing the long staircase to the stupa on Griddhakuta Mountain, Mannage experienced chest pain and collapsed. Fellow travellers attempted CPR, but he could not be revived. With the help of the ropeway management, he was rushed to the sub-divisional hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
“The death is suspected to be due to a heart attack. The tourist was immediately brought by ambulance, but by then he had already died,” said Dr Gaurav, in-charge medical officer at Rajgir hospital.
Although police attempted to conduct a post-mortem, the group declined, citing time and travel constraints. The body was later handed over to fellow tourists and will be transported to Sri Lanka via Delhi Airport after completion of formalities.
Rajgir, an important Buddhist, Jain and Hindu pilgrimage site, draws thousands of visitors every year. The Vishwa Shanti Stupa, perched on Griddhakuta Mountain, is one of its most iconic landmarks, featuring depictions of key events in Lord Buddha’s life.
