Walkers and regular visitors to Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park have urged the authorities to establish a health centre and install first-aid facilities in the park after a central excise official reportedly died of a cardiac arrest during a run.
Bengaluru | September 8, 2026
The demand for a Cubbon Park health centre follows the death of central excise official Girish Anantha Murthy, who was participating in the ‘Wipro Pre-Run’ organised at the park on September 6, according to a report by Vijay Karnataka. The report said walkers raised concerns that the park does not currently have an on-site health or first-aid centre for emergencies.
S. Umesh, president of the Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association, called for a health facility to be established near the Central Public Library or at another suitable location inside the park. He said that while hospitals are located around Cubbon Park, immediate treatment can be critical during a medical emergency.
“Immediate treatment is very valuable during an emergency. Therefore, a health centre should be opened near the Central Public Library or at a selected location,” Umesh was quoted as saying.
According to the report, Murthy suffered a cardiac arrest during the run and died. Eyewitnesses cited in the report said that he might have survived if treatment had been available immediately. The report does not provide an official account of the incident, including the response time, the medical cause of death or whether emergency services were called.
Walkers also sought first-aid boxes at multiple points in the park. Umesh said visitors could require medical assistance after snake or dog bites, injuries caused by falling trees or branches, or falls while walking or running. The demand covers both basic first aid and a system for quickly moving serious cases to a hospital.
The walkers’ association also raised concerns about access control and security. Umesh alleged that park gates continued to remain open after 10 p.m. for people visiting clubs, despite a rule requiring the entrances to be closed at that time. He further alleged that closed-circuit cameras were switched off on weekends and that some security personnel were not performing their duties responsibly.
The report said Umesh also questioned the continuity of security personnel after a change in the agency responsible for security at the park. He alleged that some guards had been working there for about a decade and accused them of neglecting security responsibilities. These claims were not accompanied in the report by a response from the Department of Horticulture or the security agency.
The association additionally alleged that vendors become more active in the park during weekends and sell snacks at high prices, while claiming that the Horticulture Department has not taken effective action. The report did not include the department’s response to the allegations or confirm whether any decision had been taken on a health centre, first-aid boxes, security arrangements or vendor regulation.
The walkers’ association has asked the authorities to take steps to establish the proposed health facility and improve emergency preparedness inside Cubbon Park.
