India, July 4 -- A sudden surge in heart attack-related deaths in Karnataka's Hassan district has raised public health concerns, with 22 people dying over the past 40 days, many of them under the age of 45. The deaths, reported from various parts of the district, include students, homemakers, teachers, and government employees.

On June 30, four more individuals died of suspected cardiac arrest. The victims included Lepakshi (50), a homemaker from Belur, who collapsed after feeling fatigued; Professor Muttayya (58), an English lecturer from Holenarasipura, who died while having tea, Kumar (57), a D-group employee from Channarayapatna, who had been admitted to hospital with chest pain; and Satyanarayana Rao (63) from Rangolihalli, who coll...