Crowded venues should have dedicated emergency evacuation route: Senior doctor

Heavy rush of people and traffic, due to dasara, in Kudroli area during Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s visit to Gokarnanatha Temple on Thursday evening forced a family in the area to shift a family member, who suffered a heart attack, to the hospital on a motorcycle, according to a senior doctor in the city.“Every major temple, festival venue and crowded public gathering must have a dedicated emergency evacuation route and must be kept clear at all times for ambulances and rescue vehicles,” Padmanabh Kamath, senior interventional cardiologist, KMC Hospital, Mangaluru, said.Dr. Kamath, founder, Cardiology at Doorsteps Foundation, Mangaluru, told The Hindu: “At around 8:30 p.m., the person suffered a heart attack. Due to the tremendous crowd, it was impossible to take a four-wheeler into the area. In a desperate effort to save his life, his son and sister transported him on a motorcycle, with the patient sandwiched inbetween them, struggling to make their way through the crowd to reach the hospital. The patient underwent angioplasty and is now stable.”The incident highlights a crucial public safety concern, the doctor said. “Religious celebrations are important, but access to emergency medical care cannot be compromised. Even a few minutes’ delay during a heart attack can have serious consequences,” Dr. Kamath said.“I urge the temple authorities, police and district administration and event organisers to make emergency access and evacuation planning mandatory during all major public gatherings,” he said.Let devotion and celebration go hand in hand with the protection of human life, Dr. Kamath said. Published - October 16, 2026 09:36 pm IST