In just 40 days, 21 people, many under 45 have died of sudden heart attacks in Karnataka’s Hassan district
A Surge Without Warning: 21 Deaths in 40 Days
Karnataka’s Hassan district is grappling with a chilling mystery: 21 people have died of heart attacks in just 40 days, many of them young and reportedly healthy. The victims include a 50-year-old homemaker, a 58-year-old professor, and a 57-year-old government employee all of whom collapsed suddenly with no prior cardiac history.
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What’s more alarming is the age profile. Five of the deceased were between 19 and 25, and eight were between 25 and 45. This trend has left families devastated and the community in shock. The suddenness of the deaths, many occurring at home or in public spaces has only deepened the anxiety.
The district’s health department has confirmed that 190 fatal heart attacks were recorded in Hassan over the past two years, but the recent spike, especially among the young, is unprecedented.
Panic and Probes: Government Orders High-Level Investigation
In response to growing public concern, the Karnataka government has launched a high-level probe. A 10-member committee led by Dr. Ravindranath, Director of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, has been tasked with reviewing all medical records and identifying potential causes.
Initial findings suggest that nine of the 18 early victims were over 55 with co-morbidities, while five were in their 20s, including four who died in Bengaluru but hailed from Hassan. Some had Type-1 diabetes or chronic illnesses, but others had no known health issues.
Experts are also exploring genetic predispositions that may affect heart muscle function in the local population. “We are not ruling out any possibility be it environmental, genetic, or lifestyle-related,” said Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary of the Health Department.
The committee has been asked to submit its findings within 10 days. Meanwhile, taluk-level health officers have been instructed to prioritize patients reporting chest pain and to escalate cases to Bengaluru if needed.
A Community on Edge: Hospitals Overflow, Questions Multiply
The ripple effect of the crisis is already visible. Jayadeva Hospital in Bengaluru has reported an 8% surge in outpatient visits, with people from Hassan and nearby districts rushing in for cardiac evaluations. The hospital’s OPDs are overwhelmed, and cardiologists are working overtime to manage the influx.
Residents are demanding answers. Many of the deceased had no history of heart disease, and their families are struggling to understand how seemingly healthy individuals could die so suddenly. “My son was 24, fit, and active. He just collapsed,” said one grieving parent.
The district administration has also convened emergency meetings with senior officials. Deputy Commissioner KS Lathakumari confirmed that a Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) task force will conduct a parallel investigation.
The STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) scheme, which connects taluk hospitals with super-specialists via telemedicine, is being expanded to ensure timely intervention during the “golden hour” of cardiac arrest.
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