Kohima, Dec 9: A 67-year-old tourist from the United Kingdom, Nigel Richard, died of a heart attack while attending the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland on Saturday. The incident occurred at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, the central venue of the festival.

Richard, from Bradford, complained of severe chest pain while waiting for a bus at the festival site. He was immediately attended to at a health camp and later transferred to a private hospital in Kohima, about 12 km away. Despite medical efforts, he passed away that evening. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as a heart attack.

A brief farewell service was held at Kohima’s North Police Station on Sunday, and arrangements were made for his body to be sent back to the UK.

The Hornbill Festival, which began on December 1, has attracted over 1.30 lakh visitors, including 2,100 international tourists. The event showcases cultural performances, local handicrafts, and traditional ceremonies, drawing people from across India and the world.