A young family's world was torn apart on a quiet Bengaluru road in the early hours of Saturday, in a tragedy compounded by systemic failure and shocking public indifference. What began as a medical emergency spiraled into a nightmare of missed opportunities, delayed care, and the chilling silence of vehicles that refused to stop.
A Desperate Search for Medical Help
Venkataramana, a 34-year-old mechanic from Balaji Nagar, woke up at 3:30 am with severe chest pain. His wife, Roopa K, acted swiftly, taking him on their scooter to a private hospital in Kathriguppe. Their hope for urgent treatment was dashed when the hospital turned them away, stating no doctor was available.
Roopa then took her husband to another private facility nearby. An ECG confirmed her worst fear: Venkataramana was having a heart attack. Despite the critical diagnosis, Roopa alleges that the hospital initiated no emergency treatment and arranged no ambulance. Staff simply advised her to take him to the state-run Jayadeva Hospital.
The Cruel Apathy on a Dark Road
With no other option, the couple got back on their scooter to continue their journey. Around 4:21 am, near the Kadirenahalli bridge, Venkataramana clutched his chest again. The scooter wobbled and they fell onto the road.
Injured but frantic, Roopa rushed to her husband, who was struggling to breathe. She then stood on the road, waving desperately at passing two-wheelers and cars, begging strangers to stop and help take her dying husband to the hospital. One vehicle after another passed by. No one stopped. Venkataramana lay gasping on the asphalt as precious minutes slipped away.
A pedestrian eventually paused and stayed with them. Venkataramana's sister also arrived and joined the futile attempts to flag down help. Nearly seven agonizing minutes later, a car finally halted. By then, Venkataramana had lost consciousness. His sister attempted CPR as they rushed him to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Aftermath: Grief, Anger, and a Call for Change
The entire ordeal was captured by a nearby CCTV camera. The Banashankari traffic police have registered a case and handed over the body to the family after a postmortem. Venkataramana is survived by his mother, wife, and two children. He worked in his sister's automobile shop. The family has chosen not to lodge a formal complaint against the hospitals, stating they have already lost their brother.
Roopa, however, has spoken out forcefully. She demands action against the hospitals that she says failed to provide emergency care or arrange an ambulance. She also expressed deep anguish over the public's lack of compassion. "If someone had helped us in time, my husband might have survived," she said. "He wanted to live. That is why he kept riding despite the pain."
In an profound act of humanity amidst her grief, Roopa chose to donate Venkataramana's eyes, allowing his death to bring light to others. Her final plea is a stark reminder to society: "No one should go through what we did. Please stop and help when someone is in distress. A few minutes can mean the difference between life and death."
