Karnataka govt to investigate surge in heart attacks in Hassan district
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has ordered an expert study into the rise in heart attack cases in Hassan district.
Taking to 'X' on Monday, he said the Health Department has taken the 18 heart attack cases reported in Hassan district within a month seriously.
"I have already instructed the department officials to conduct a study by experts under the leadership of the Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research to investigate the increase in heart attacks and submit a report," he said.
According to Rao, the state government has implemented the Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi Yojane to prevent sudden heart attacks. But, there is a need for comprehensive research on the recent increase in heart attacks among young people.
Although changing lifestyle, diet, and non-communicable diseases are cited as factors contributing to heart ailments, the cases in Hassan have raised several questions. In order to find a solution to this, a team of experts has been instructed to conduct a study and submit a report within 10 days.
Earlier, speaking to the reporters in Mangaluru, the Health Minister said that he has directed officials to develop a robust programme focusing on early detection, awareness, and preventive care for cardiac ailments.
An expert committee led by Dr CN Ravindra of Jayadeva Institute has been constituted to look into the reasons behind such multiple cases of heart attacks.
Pointing to certain findings, the Minister said lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol use, gutka (chewing tobacco), obesity, stress and genetic predisposition are key drivers, rather than COVID-19 vaccines.
In response to these findings, Rao has instructed the health department to launch district-wide ECG and blood pressure screening camps, particularly targeting rural areas.
He emphasised the importance of deploying medical technicians and mobilising awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, and gram panchayats.
"These directives will be executed under a high-level task force comprising senior officials from the Health Department, with priorities including timely ECG testing, public education on cardiac risks, and steps to curb unhealthy lifestyle habits", Rao added.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
