Amid deaths due to heart attacks, CM Siddaramaiah cautions people against symptoms
Bengaluru, Jul 1 (PTI): In the wake of recent cases of deaths due to heart attacks in Hassan, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday cautioned people against symptoms even as an experts committee headed by the Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research has been formed to identify the exact cause behind these deaths.
He urged everyone to visit the nearest health center immediately for a check-up if they have symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing, and not to ignore these signs.
The chief minister said that more than twenty people have died due to heart attacks in the past month alone in just one district of Hassan.
"The government is taking this matter very seriously. To identify the exact cause of these series of deaths and to find solutions, a committee of experts has been formed under the leadership of Dr Ravindranath, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, and they have been instructed to submit a study report within 10 days," he said, in a post on 'X'.
According to him, orders were given to the same committee back in February to conduct a thorough study on the reasons behind sudden deaths among young people in the state, and whether the COVID vaccines could have had any adverse effects. In this regard, the process of examining and analysing heart patients is also underway.
"We too value the lives of children, youth, and innocent people who have their entire lives ahead of them, and we share the concerns of their families," he said.
Siddaramaiah condemned the actions of BJP leaders, alleging that they are using such matters for their political gains.
"It cannot be denied that the hasty approval and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to the public could also be a reason for these deaths, as several studies worldwide have recently indicated that COVID vaccines could be a cause for the increasing number of heart attacks. Before the BJP criticise us on this matter, they should ask their conscience," he added.
The chief minister said the state government is fully committed to finding the true cause behind these sudden series of deaths in Hassan district and across the state and to preventing them.
"With this goal, we have already implemented schemes like Hridaya Jyothi and Gruha Arogya to monitor public health. Based on the report from the expert committee under Dr Ravindranath's guidance, necessary actions will also be taken. As a government, we are making every possible effort to protect the health of the people," he said.
According to the health department, a directive has also been issued to form a district-level committee to verify the facts of each reported cases of heart attack death in the media. The committee headed by Dr Ravindranath has been instructed to investigate this matter in collaboration with Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences and to submit a report within 10 days.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundo Rao said Dr Ravindranath committee will look into these deaths, conduct an audit, collect all the necessary information, and check for any abnormalities or variations.
"We've taken it seriously. If there are any factors beyond medical reasons, those will also be examined and verified. A proper scientific analysis will be done once the report is ready. We have asked the committee to submit the report within 10 days, and based on that, we will take further decisions," he told reporters here.
Among the reported deaths due to heart attacks in Hassan, four were in the age group of 20 years and below, one in the age group of 21-29 years, five were in the age group of 30-40 years, seven deaths were in the age group of 41-59 years and one death was in the age group of above 60 years, the health department added.
In the past month alone, in just one district of Hassan, more than twenty people have died due to heart attacks. The government is taking this matter very seriously. To identify the exact cause of these series of deaths and to find solutions, a committee of experts has been…
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 1, 2025
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Nightclub fire: Goa court remands Luthra brothers in police custody for five days
Panaji (PTI): A court in North Goa on Wednesday remanded Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, in police custody for five days.
The brothers, brought to Goa from Delhi after being deported from Thailand in connection with the December 6 blaze that killed 25, were produced in the court after undergoing health check-ups twice at the District Hospital in North Goa.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Mapusa Puja Sardesai remanded the two brothers in police custody for five days.
Advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing Bhavana Joshi who lost four family members in the tragedy, said that the accused were asking for “special consideration” claiming poor health.
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“We said they should not be given any extra relaxation,” he said, adding that the court has taken cognisance of the fact that this is about the death of “25 people in the form of mass genocide”.
“But since they kept pressing for medical check-up, the court ordered reexamination of their health. It is clear in the medical examination that they don’t require any consideration. The accused sought special considerations in the lock-up like a good mattress, which the court refused,” said Joshi.
A team of the Goa Police, along with the Luthra brothers, arrived at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa, in North Goa at 10.45 am.
The duo was initially taken to a Primary Health Centre at Siolim for medical examination. They were then taken to the District Hospital at Mapusa.
After their health assessment, the two were brought to the court.
The court directed that the accused be sent for fresh medical examination. Accordingly, the two were again taken to the District Hospital.
Later, they were produced before Judge Sardesai, who ordered the five-day police custody of the accused.
After the fire tragedy at Arpora village, the Anjuna police had registered a case against the Luthra brothers on various charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The brothers were arrested in Delhi on Tuesday after being deported from Thailand. A court there allowed the Goa Police their two-day transit remand.
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The duo had fled to Phuket in Thailand early on December 7, hours after the fire at their nightclub, prompting the authorities to issue an Interpol Blue Corner Notice and cancel their passports.
They were detained by Thai authorities at Phuket on December 11 following a request from the Indian government, which later coordinated with officials in Thailand to deport them under legal treaties between the two nations.
Five managers and staff members have already been arrested by the Goa Police in connection with the fire.
