75-Year-Old Buddhist Monk Found Dead in Tent at Saraphi Highway
A 75-year-old Buddhist monk was found dead in a tent along Saraphi Highway in Chiang Mai on May 2, with authorities suspecting extreme pre-monsoon heat as the likely cause.
At 8:30 a.m. on May 2, 2569, investigator Thanung Wanasri from Saraphi Police Station in Chiang Mai received a report of a deceased monk near the Saraphi Highway on the outbound side of the city in Moo 3, Chaisathan Subdistrict, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai. Officers and Saraphi rescue personnel rushed to the scene and found the body of Phra Bunchart, 75 years old, deceased in a resting tent. Investigator Thanung disclosed that the death was reported with an unknown cause. The body showed no signs of struggle or assault. According to witness statements, the deceased monk had been staying in the area since May 1 around 8:00 a.m. to meditate and was last seen around 6:00 p.m. On May 2 at approximately 8:30 a.m., he was found deceased. The body was transported to Saraphi Hospital for an autopsy and then sent to Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital for further investigation into the cause of death. Initial assessment suggests that the extreme heat during the current pre-monsoon period, characterized by intense humidity before rainfall, may have contributed to the death. The monk's use of a tent instead of proper shelter likely intensified the heat exposure, potentially leading to his death.
