A 34-year-old mechanic, Venkataramanan, tragically died in south Bengaluru following a series of alleged medical lapses and public apathy, sparking serious concerns about emergency healthcare and civic responsibility in the city. The incident began in the early hours when Venkataramanan suffered severe chest pain and difficulty breathing at his home in Balaji Nagar around 3:30 am. With no ambulance available immediately, his wife Roopa put him on their scooter and rushed to a nearby private hospital. According to the family, hospital staff told her no doctor was available and advised them to go elsewhere.

The couple then approached another hospital, where an ECG reportedly indicated signs of a heart attack. However, the family alleges that urgent treatment was not initiated, nor was an ambulance arranged. Instead, they were advised to take him to the specialized Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research.

While attempting to arrange further transport through narrow lanes near their home, the scooter skidded and crashed near Kaderanahalli. CCTV footage captured Venkataramanan lying motionless as Roopa pleaded for help from passing motorists. Despite multiple vehicles—including two-wheelers, cars, and a tempo traveller—passing by, no one stopped for several minutes. Witnesses noted that traffic was light but moving quickly in the pre-dawn hours, and Roopa’s repeated pleas were ignored.

Eventually, a cab driver stopped and transported Venkataramanan to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Medical staff stated that he had suffered a cardiac arrest, and the combination of delays from the initial heart attack, hospital transfers, and the road accident likely proved fatal.

Venkataramanan is survived by his wife, a five-year-old son, an eighteen-month-old daughter, and his elderly mother. His family revealed that his mother had previously lost five children, making him her only surviving son. In an act described by relatives as an effort to save other lives, the family consented to donate his eyes. The incident has sparked allegations against the first two hospitals for failing to provide timely emergency care and refusing to arrange basic transport. Family members claim that financial status may have influenced the response and have demanded a formal inquiry into the hospitals’ conduct.

The tragedy has also reignited discussions on public indifference and the legal responsibility of bystanders to assist victims in accidents and medical emergencies. Activists and healthcare professionals emphasize that both Karnataka and central government guidelines protect Good Samaritans from legal and procedural issues when helping transport patients to hospitals. They argue that increased public awareness, faster ambulance response, and stricter enforcement of emergency care norms are crucial to preventing similar fatalities in the future.