Hassan, July 3 -- Karnataka's Hassan district is in the grip of a worrying surge in heart attack-related deaths, with four more lives lost on June 30, taking the number of deaths to 22 in just 40 days.

The majority of the victims were young or middle-aged, raising serious concerns about an emerging health crisis in the region. Among the 22 deaths, five were between 19 and 25 years old, eight were aged between 25 and 45, and only a few were above 60. This disproportionate impact on the younger population has left both the medical community and the public rattled.

The victims on June 30 include Lepakshi, a 50-year-old homemaker from JP Nagar in Belur, who collapsed after complaining of fatigue. Professor Muttayya, 58, an English lecturer ...