Puneeth Rajkumar, Kannada actor, dies at 46
Puneeth Rajkumar, a prolific Kannada actor, passed away today at the young age of 46 due to heart attack in Bengaluru.
Puneeth Rajkumar was brought into Vikram Hospital in the morning after he suffered a massive heart attack while working out in his gym, according to the sources. He was admitted to ICU (Intensive Care Unit) in a serious condition.
In an official statement, The Vikram Hospital said, “Puneet Rajkumar aged 46 years was brought to the emergency department, Vikram Hospital with history of chest pain at 11:40 am. He was non responsive and was in Cardiac Asystole and Advanced cardiac resuscitation has been initiated.”
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai visited the hospital. Many other ministers and former chief ministers of the state are present at the hospital as well.
Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar’s mortal remains is to be kept at Kanteerava stadium in Bengaluru for people to pay homage. The police are making arrangements at the outdoor stadium and tight security is in place around the stadium.
Security hyped up in Karnataka
Massive swarm of crowd was seen outside the hospital after Puneeth was brought in. The crowd kept thickening to get the latest news on the health of their beloved star.
Taking note of the situation, Karnataka has been put up on high alert and shops and offices in Bengaluru have also been shut down. Police battalions have been brought in to keep the city under control in case of violence following the untimely demise of Kannada star Puneeth Rajkumar.
Karnataka CM has cancelled his trip to Chikamangalore today after the news of Puneeth’s broke out.
Puneeth Rajkumar
Puneeth Rajkumar was the son of matinee star Rajkumar, he started his career as a child artist while working alongside his father in the early 1980s. He was also a popular television presenter and counted in the list of highest paid actors in Kannada film industry.
Raam, Hudugaru, and Anjani Putra are some of his memorable movies. He was last seen in “Yuvarathnaa”, which was released early this year.
Puneeth known for his healthy lifestyle and good looks was fondly referred to as “Appu” by his fans.
Reasons behind cardiac arrest
Puneeth, known for his healthy lifestyle, did not have any known underlying condition which would lead to a cardiac arrest.
However, this is the not the first case of heart attack amongst seemingly healthy individuals, recently Balika Vadhu famed star Sidharth Shukla also passed away due to a heart attack.
Particularly, ‘stressful’ and increased exercise hours are said to be a common factor for celebrities who tend to develop such conditions (Cardiovascular ailments). It’s also considered to be a reason why seemingly fit people tend to pass away after a cardiac arrest, even with the best diet and exercise.
With research preliminary right now, extreme exercise could be a risk factor which can damage or disrupt the heart’s functioning. However, it’s difficult to ascertain to what extent. Some research has found evidence that high intensity exercise can increase the risk for sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death in individuals with underlying cardiac diseases.
Celebrity Reactions
Tweets and reactions poured from all around the country to mourn the demise of the successful actor. People from all ambits of life praised the life of Puneeth while languishing the loss suffered by the family and the world.
“A cruel twist of fate has snatched away from us a prolific and talented actor, Puneeth Rajkumar. This was no age to go. The coming generations will remember him fondly for his works and wonderful personality. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.” Tweeted PM Narendra Modi.
“Heartbroken. Will always miss you my brother. #PuneethRajkumar,” Sonu tweeted.
“Deeply shocked by the demise of talented actor #PowerStar #PuneethRajkumar. He had won the hearts of Kannadigas through his great acting skills & his simplicity. His passing away is a great loss for Karnataka.”, was tweeted by the former Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah.