Despite heightened security imposed across Tibet during the period around the Dalai Lama's birthday  which was on July 6, 2015, Sonam Topgyal, a Tibetan monk in his late twenties set fire to himself in the main square of Kyegudo (Yushu) on July 9, 2015. Sonam Topgyal is from Nangchen (Chinese: Nangqian) in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The Tibet Information Network said images emerging from Tibet showed Sonam Topgyal, on the ground in flames in the town’s main Gesar Square. Tibetan sources also said that Sonam Topgyal was taken away by armed police while still alive and is believed to be in hospital. The county town of Kyegudo (also referred to as Jyekundo or Kyegudo) is in Qinghai Province (the Tibetan area of Kham).