A 45-year-old man, Suresh Jangid, died after his health suddenly deteriorated while returning from a visit to the Barkhandi Nath temple in the Lohargal hill area of Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district. A heart attack is suspected as the preliminary cause of death.
Suresh Jangid, a resident of Pujari Ki Dhani in the Nawalgarh area, had travelled with friends to Barkhandi Nath temple on Wednesday, August 12. He reportedly reached the religious site at around 11 am.
After offering prayers, Suresh and his friends were proceeding towards Kedar Baba. About 250 metres after the temple area, while descending, his health suddenly deteriorated. His friends tried to assist him, but he became unconscious and fell.
According to his friends, Suresh experienced difficulty breathing, and a low oxygen level was also reported. They tried for some time to revive him, but his condition did not improve and he subsequently died.
The temple is located in a hilly area at an elevation of about 1,051 metres, or approximately 3,450 feet. The preliminary information indicates a heart attack, although the actual cause of death can be confirmed only after medical examination.
After Suresh’s death, bringing his body down from the hill became a challenge. Several sections of the route to the religious site are described as difficult and slippery.
There was no ropeway or other immediate transport facility available at the site, leaving Suresh’s friends to carry his body down the hill. According to his family and friends, they carried the body on their shoulders for about an hour along the hilly route.
The slope, slippery surface and elevation made the descent difficult.
The incident has raised discussion about medical facilities at Barkhandi Nath and other hilltop religious sites in the area. According to the family and local residents, immediate medical assistance was not available in the hill area.
The circumstances of Suresh’s condition and the actual time taken for medical assistance to reach the site are not clear. Therefore, a final conclusion about the circumstances of his death should be based on the relevant medical examination and report.
Suresh Jangid also served as a priest at the Jotaram Baba temple located at his home. According to local residents, devotees regularly visited the temple, which had religious significance among people in the surrounding area.
Suresh had a 20-year-old son and a 15-year-old daughter. He also worked in furniture-related work and contributed to his family’s livelihood.
A ropeway project for the Barkhandi hill had previously been announced to facilitate access for devotees. The state government proposed developing a ropeway in the area in its 2024 budget.
Information about the project stated that a survey was completed in December 2025. However, construction of the ropeway has not started.
According to information linked to the Tourism Department, the project was planned under the public-private partnership, or PPP, model. The project could not move forward because investors did not come forward.
The ropeway was expected to make it easier for devotees to reach and return from the hill area. It could also assist in bringing people and essential items down during emergencies. However, a ropeway by itself does not address medical emergencies, and first-aid and rescue arrangements remain necessary at hilltop religious sites.
The incident has brought attention to the need for emergency medical assistance and safe transport at religious sites located in hilly areas. Difficult climbs, elevation, heat, rain and slippery conditions can create health-related risks for devotees.
In situations such as a suspected heart attack, the availability of first-aid facilities, trained medical staff, oxygen and emergency transport can be important. However, the severity of Suresh’s condition and the response time at the site have not been established in the information provided.
Suresh had travelled to the religious site with friends on a visit to Barkhandi Nath, but died during the return journey. His friends subsequently had to carry his body down the difficult hill route.
