Walkers and regular visitors to Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park have urged the authorities to establish an emergency health or first-aid centre inside the park after a Central Excise officer died following a heart attack during a running event.
The demand was raised by S. Umesh, president of the Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association, in comments reported by Vijay Karnataka. Umesh said the park receives thousands of walkers and visitors every day but does not have an on-site facility to provide immediate medical assistance during emergencies.
The reported death occurred during the Wipro Pre Run held at Cubbon Park on September 6. Girish Anantha Murthy, a Central Excise officer who took part in the run, died after suffering a heart attack. The report attributed to eyewitnesses the view that quicker treatment might have improved his chances of survival. The report did not include a response from the Horticulture Department or details of an official medical assessment.
Umesh said an emergency health centre could be opened near the Central Public Library or at another suitable location within the park. He also called for first-aid boxes to be installed at selected points so that visitors can receive immediate assistance before being taken to a hospital if necessary.
The association said visitors could require first aid after incidents including snake or dog bites, injuries caused by falling trees or branches, and falls while walking or running. Although hospitals are located around the park, Umesh said the time taken to provide initial treatment inside the park could be important during an emergency.
The walkers’ association also raised concerns about security and access control. Umesh alleged that the park’s entrance gates remain open after 10 p.m. to allow club members to enter and leave, despite a rule requiring the gates to be closed at that time. He further alleged that closed-circuit cameras are switched off on weekends and that some security personnel have continued working at the park for years despite changes in the security agency.
The report did not provide an official response from the Horticulture Department or the agency responsible for security at Cubbon Park regarding these allegations. The association also alleged that weekend vendors sell food at high prices and that departmental officials have not taken sufficient action. Its immediate demands are the establishment of an emergency health facility, installation of first-aid boxes and stricter enforcement of security and vendor-management rules within the park.
