Tragic Demise During a Swim Across Palk Strait

Gopal Rao, a 78-year-old man from Bengaluru, Karnataka, tragically died of a heart attack while participating in a relay swimming event from Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka to the Dhanushkodi islet in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. Mr. Rao was part of a group of 31 swimmers who embarked on this challenging swim across the Palk Strait.

Despite immediate assistance, he succumbed to a heart attack midway through the swim. In respect to Mr. Rao, the other swimmers cancelled the event and returned to Dhanushkodi islet by boat. The body has been sent for post-mortem, and the Rameswaram Town police have registered a case.