21 sudden cardiac deaths in 40 days spark alarm in Karnataka district
Zinnia Balli
Hassan, Karnataka, July 2, 2025: A sudden rise in heart attack-related deaths in Hassan district, Karnataka, has raised serious concerns among health officials and the general public.
Over the past 40 days, at least 21 people, including several young adults, have reportedly died due to sudden cardiac arrest.According to local sources, the victims include individuals as young as 19 and 20 years old.
On June 30 alone, four people, including a 50-year-old homemaker, a college lecturer, and a retired government employee, died unexpectedly after experiencing cardiac symptoms.
The Karnataka government has taken swift action by forming a committee led by Dr. K.S. Ravindranath, former Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. The expert panel has been directed to investigate the causes of these sudden deaths and submit a detailed report within 10 days.
Local hospitals, including Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Bengaluru and Mysuru, have reported a 10–20% rise in cardiac-related outpatient visits from Hassan and nearby regions over the past month.
“We are seeing an unusual number of young patients coming in with chest pain, palpitations, and breathlessness,” said a senior cardiologist at Jayadeva Hospital.
A district-level health task force has also begun reviewing each reported case to determine underlying causes and whether any patterns exists.