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BENGALURU: A 34-year-old mechanic’s death in the early hours of Saturday has raised disturbing questions about emergency healthcare and public apathy in the city, after he was allegedly turned away by hospitals and left helpless on the road as bystanders failed to stop.
Venkataramana, a resident of Balaji Nagar in Ittamadu, Banashankari III Stage, woke up around 3.30am complaining of severe chest pain. His wife, Roopa K, immediately took him on their scooter to a private hospital in Kathriguppe, hoping for urgent medical help. According to Roopa, they were turned away after being told no doctor was available.
They then went to another nearby private hospital, where an ECG reportedly confirmed that Venkataramana was having a heart attack. However, Roopa alleged that no emergency treatment was provided and no ambulance was arranged. Instead, she was advised to take him to Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences. With no alternative support, the couple set off again on their scooter.
Tragedy struck at around 4.21am near the Kadirenahalli bridge. Venkataramana clutched his chest, lost control, and the scooter toppled. As he lay on the road struggling to breathe, Roopa frantically flagged down passing vehicles, pleading for help. One vehicle after another drove past without stopping.
A pedestrian eventually paused and stayed with them, and Venkataramana’s sister soon reached the spot and also tried to stop traffic. Nearly seven minutes later, a car finally halted. By then, Venkataramana had lost consciousness. His sister attempted CPR before they rushed him to hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The entire sequence, including Roopa’s desperate attempts to seek help, was later captured on a nearby CCTV camera.
Banashankari traffic police have registered a case and, after a postmortem, handed over the body to the family. Venkataramana is survived by his mother, wife and two young children. He worked as a mechanic at his sister’s automobile shop.
The family said they have not filed a formal complaint against the hospitals. “We have already lost him,” his sister said.
Roopa, however, urged authorities to take action, alleging that the hospitals failed to provide emergency care or arrange timely transport, possibly due to their financial condition. She also expressed anguish over the indifference shown by passersby.
“If someone had helped us in time, my husband might have survived,” she said. “He wanted to live. That’s why he kept riding despite the pain.”
Even amid her grief, Roopa chose to donate her husband’s eyes, allowing his death to give the gift of sight — and hope — to others.
