On Monday, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba became an object of ridicule with his various images along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Lumbini widely shared on social media platforms.

In the images with Modi while offering prayers, witnessing exchange of documents and attending functions, Deuba appears to be drowsy—or even sleeping—fidgety, lost and even unsettled. His counterpart, however, appears to be calm and composed, performing prayers and attending events with aplomb.

An official and some members from Deuba’s party said that the prime minister was disturbed for the past few days as his brother was in a critical condition at Bir Hospital.

Deuba’s brother Prem Bahadur Deuba died on Tuesday morning. He was 67.

The prime minister’s private secretariat said that Prem died of lung cancer which he was battling for long. He was undergoing treatment at Bir Hospital.

Bhanu Deuba, personal secretary to Prime Minister Deuba, said that Prem’s funeral rites were performed at Aryaghat on Tuesday afternoon.

Deuba had reached Lumbini on Sunday to welcome Modi, who arrived in the birthplace of Buddha on the occasion of 2566th Buddha Jayanti.

An official who accompanied Deuba to Lumbini said that the prime minister went to bed quite late on Sunday as he was enquiring about his brother and speaking to doctors.

Monday’s functions were scheduled from early morning. At around 8am, Deuba inaugurated the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa. After that, he travelled to Lumbini, some 18 kilometres from the airport, to receive Modi, who landed at around 10:40am.

Immediately afterwards, Deuba accompanied Modi to offer prayers at the Mayadevi temple. Officials said the functions were scheduled tightly with little room for breathing, which made it even more difficult for Deuba, 75.

The Nepali Congress on Tuesday issued a statement on Prem Bahadur’s demise saying he was a social figure. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters, according to the statement.