No Ambulance, No Help: 34-Year-Old Man Dies After Heart Attack on on Busy Bengaluru Road

A 34-year-old mechanic from Bengaluru died after falling from a scooter while being rushed for treatment following a heart attack. The incident happened in the early hours of Saturday. The mechanic's wife, Roopa K, later said delayed medical help and apathy from passing motorists worsened the situation and may have cost Venkataraman his life.

The incident occurred on December 13 in the Kadirenahalli area of Banashankari, where the man suffered a cardiac arrest while travelling on a two-wheeler with his wife. CCTV footage from the area reportedly shows the woman desperately seeking help on the busy road, while vehicles continued to pass without stopping or offering assistance.

Venkataraman, who lived in Balaji Nagar in Ittamadu, Banashankari III Stage, woke around 3:30 am with severe chest pain. Roopa grew worried and chose not to wait for daylight. Roopa placed Venkataraman on their scooter and rode towards a private hospital in Kathriguppe, which was the closest facility they knew.

According to Roopa, staff at the first private hospital said no doctor was available at that hour. They reportedly suggested the couple visit another private hospital nearby instead. At the second hospital, doctors performed an ECG, which confirmed that Venkataraman had suffered a heart attack. Medical staff then advised Roopa to shift Venkataraman to Jayadeva Hospital for specialised cardiac care.

Roopa said the second hospital did not give emergency treatment beyond the ECG and advice. She also alleged that nobody there arranged an ambulance, despite the confirmed heart attack. With no transport support and fearing delays, the couple decided to return home briefly, then ride on their scooter towards Jayadeva Hospital for further treatment.

Tragedy unfolded around 4:21 am, when they were about 100-200 metres from their house. Venkataraman reportedly developed intense chest pain again while on the scooter. The vehicle lost balance and both fell on the road. Roopa received injuries but rushed to check on Venkataraman, who appeared to be in a critical state and struggled to breathe.

Roopa tried to flag down other road users as vehicles continued passing the spot. "I begged people to stop and help me take my husband to the hospital," she told media persons. "But most of them just went past without stopping." A pedestrian eventually stopped and stayed with Roopa and Venkataraman while Roopa continued calling for more help.

Soon after, Venkataraman's sister reached the location with another person, and both also pleaded with motorists. Roopa said very few responded. Around seven minutes later, a car driver finally halted and agreed to assist. By that time, Venkataraman had lost consciousness. His sister performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation for a couple of minutes in the car. They then drove to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. CCTV footage from a building at the spot captured Roopa's distress after the scooter fall.

Despite the sudden loss, Roopa decided to donate Venkataraman's eyes. Family members supported the decision, seeing it as a way for part of Venkataraman to help others. "If someone helped us immediately, my husband might have survived," she said, breaking down. "He wanted to live. That is why he tried to ride to the hospital despite his pain," Roopa told media.

Roopa has called for action against the private hospital that, according to her, neither treated Venkataraman in an emergency manner nor arranged an ambulance. Roopa further alleged that staff behaviour suggested possible bias over the family's financial status. Roopa believes better response from hospital staff at that stage might have changed the outcome.

Roopa also expressed deep hurt over the behaviour of many motorists who passed without stopping. Roopa said the episode reflected a serious decline in empathy on the roads. "It was shocking how inhumane people were at that moment. Helping someone in distress can save a life. I request everyone please stop and help. No one should go through what we did," she said.

India's Rising Heart Disease Burden

The tragedy has drawn attention to India's wider cardiovascular crisis. Data from the Cause of Death Report, compiled by the Sample Registration System under the Ministry of Home Affairs, shows that heart disease has emerged as the country's leading cause of death.

Between 2021 and 2023, heart-related deaths accounted for around 31 per cent of total fatalities across India, up from about 22 per cent in the earlier period studied. These figures highlight the growing prevalence of sudden cardiac events, not only in major cities but also in smaller towns and districts.

Similar Incidents Raise Alarm

Another recent case involved a 14-year-old Class 10 student at a private school in Andhra Pradesh's Ambedkar Konaseema district. According to school authorities, the student suddenly collapsed during a lecture. Staff rushed the child to Ramachandrapuram Area Hospital, where doctors declared the student dead.

The two deaths - one following a heart attack on a Bengaluru road and another inside a school classroom - reflect India's increasing cardiovascular burden. They also underscore the vulnerability of both adults and teenagers, and highlight persistent gaps in emergency response, ambulance availability and public awareness that continue to affect survival outcomes.