Spike in Sudden Heart Attack Deaths Alarms Karnataka’s Hassan: 22 Lives Lost in 40 Days, Many Victims Shockingly Young
Hassan district in Karnataka is reeling from a worrying surge in sudden heart attack deaths, with 22 people dying in just 40 days. What’s deeply unsettling is that a significant number of the victims were in their 20s and 30s—ages generally seen as low-risk for heart-related fatalities.
On June 30 alone, four people died of suspected cardiac arrests, prompting the Karnataka government to order an urgent probe. Health authorities fear a potential public health crisis and have tasked a specialist committee to investigate.
Disturbing Age Profile
Official data highlights how unusual this pattern is:
- 5 victims were aged 19–25
- 8 victims were aged 25–45
- The remaining were between 50 and 63 years old
Recent deaths included both older and younger individuals. Among the older victims were Lepakshi (50), a homemaker who collapsed at home; Professor Muttayya (58), who died suddenly while having tea; Kumar (57), who succumbed after chest pain; and Satyanarayana Rao (63), who died on the spot.
But the spike’s real shock lies in younger victims: Sandhya (20), a student; Abhishek (19); Kavana (20); Yogesh M. (30); Chetan (38); Naveen Kumar (31); and Devaraj (43). Many had no known heart conditions.
Fear Spurs Cardiac Check-Ups
As word of these deaths spread, anxiety has driven residents to cardiac screenings, even without symptoms. Bengaluru’s Jayadeva Hospital reported an 8% rise in outpatient visits over the past fortnight, with many patients coming from Hassan and surrounding areas, driven largely by fear.
Experts Probe Possible Causes
In response, the state government has set up a high-level committee led by Dr. C.N. Ravindranath of Jayadeva Institute. The team includes experts from NIMHANS, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, St. John’s Medical College, BMCRI, Manipal Hospitals, and ICMR – NCDIR.
Their mandate: examine whether post-COVID complications, vaccine side effects, environmental factors, or undiagnosed lifestyle conditions might explain the surge. The committee has been asked to submit findings within 10 days.
Records show Hassan reported 507 heart attack cases in two years, with 190 deaths. But what makes the current situation alarming is the suddenness and the unusually young age of many victims.
Until answers emerge, fear and uncertainty hang heavy over Hassan, as families grapple with unexpected and tragic losses among their young and middle-aged loved ones.
