CM Siddaramaiah forms expert committee to study heart attack deaths in Hassan district

Bengaluru 

Chief Minister (CM) Siddaramaiah has announced the formation of a high-level expert committee to investigate the alarming rise in heart attack-related deaths in Karnataka’s Hassan district. In a post on X (formerly twitter) on Tuesday, the CM said that over 20 people have died of heart attacks in the district in the past month alone, prompting urgent government attention.

The committee, led by Dr. C.N. Ravindranath, Director of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, has been asked to submit a comprehensive report within 10 days. The panel will study possible causes behind the deaths and recommend preventive measures.

Siddaramaiah noted that this committee had also been tasked earlier in February with studying sudden deaths among young people across the state, including any potential adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines. “The process of examining and analysing heart patients is currently underway,” he said.

Sharing the concerns of families affected by these sudden deaths, the CM said, “We value the lives of children, youth, and innocent people who have their entire lives ahead of them.” He criticised BJP leaders for politicising the issue, stating, “It cannot be denied that the hasty approval and distribution of the COVID vaccine might have played a role, as global studies suggest a link between the vaccine and increased heart attacks.”

Reiterating his government’s commitment to public health, Siddaramaiah pointed to initiatives like Hridaya Jyothi and Gruha Arogya, launched to monitor and improve cardiovascular health in the community. Based on the expert committee’s findings, further measures will be taken to address the issue, he added.

He urged the public not to ignore symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath and to seek immediate medical attention. “We are doing everything possible to protect the health of our people,” the CM assured in his post.