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Grieving wife’s decision gives new life to many, ‘walk of honour’ for donor
Madikeri:
In a touching act of humanity, a grieving wife chose to give life to others by consenting to donate her husband’s organs after he was declared brain dead at Kodagu District Hospital, Madikeri, managed by Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS).
Dalu, 46, a resident of Aravathokkalu village in Ponnampet taluk, had suffered severe head injuries after falling at his house on May 17. Despite treatment, he succumbed to his injuries, following which his wife Rajeshwari agreed to donate his organs.
The donation marked the first organ retrieval procedure in the history of Kodagu District Hospital. Doctors retrieved his heart, kidneys and corneas, which were later transported under ‘zero traffic’ arrangements to hospitals in Mysuru and Bengaluru for transplantation.
Dalu was initially treated at Gonikoppal Government Hospital before being shifted to Madikeri District Hospital on May 19 after his condition deteriorated. A CT scan revealed critical internal head injuries.
Family consent, procedure
On May 22, doctors confirmed brainstem death after two rounds of examinations by a medical board and mandatory observation procedures under Indian law. The family was subsequently counselled on organ donation and Dalu’s wife, Rajeshwari, gave her consent.
The organ retrieval surgery was carried out in the early hours of May 23 under the guidance of Kodagu Medical College Dean Dr. A.J. Lokesh and Senior Surgeons Dr. Somashekar and Dr. Nanjundaiah.
ICU Specialist Dr. Nishid Joseph and Nursing Officer Pavan continuously monitored and stabilised the donor’s condition ahead of the procedure.
Nursing staff Jayashree, Anil and Manjunath, along with Senior Nursing Officers Vasanth and Mahesh, assisted through the night.
To Mysuru and Bengaluru hospitals
By 2 am, Surgeons had successfully retrieved the two kidneys, heart and corneas. Medical teams from Mysuru and Bengaluru, including specialists from JSS Hospital and Narayana Hrudayalaya, participated in the procedure. The organs were dispatched to recipient hospitals by 6 am. The hospital later held a solemn ‘walk of honour’ for Dalu. Rajeshwari was also presented with an official organ donation certificate in recognition of the family’s decision.
Speaking emotionally, Rajeshwari said, “We wanted his death to give life to others, so we agreed to donate his kidneys, eyes and heart,” she said.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May24th, 2026
Brain-dead man saves four lives as first organ donation performed at Karnataka’s Madikeri district hospital
Following the consent by the victim’s family, the management at the hospital contacted several other hospitals and made a list of the recipients.
Dalu (46), a resident of Arvathoklu near Gonikoppal, was admitted to the District Hospital aka Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KoIMS) after he suffered severe head injuries in an accident. Photo | Special Arrangement
Madikeri :
A 46-year-old man, declared brain dead, gave a new lease of life to over four people after his family donated his organs. In a landmark achievement, the organ donation procedure was conducted for the first time at the District Hospital in Madikeri.
Dalu (46), a resident of Arvathoklu near Gonikoppal, was admitted to the District Hospital aka Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KoIMS) after he suffered severe head injuries in an accident. However, Dalu was not responding to the treatment, and after 48 hours of observation, a two-stage medical committee conducted the examination and confirmed loss of brain stem functions. The hospital declared him brain dead.
While tragedy struck the family of Dalu after he was declared brain dead on May 19, Dalu’s wife Rajeshwari, took a bold step. Following counseling by the medical experts at the District Hospital, Rajeshwari agreed to donate the organs of her husband.
“My husband suffered continuous epilepsy attacks on May 17 and he was shifted to the District Hospital. After several tests, the doctors at the hospital confirmed that my husband was brain dead on May 19,” recalled Rajeshwari. An estate worker who also works as domestic help to run her family, Rajeshwari decided to donate her husband’s organs after she learnt that it would help many patients.
Following the consent by the victim’s family, the management at the hospital contacted several other hospitals and made a list of the recipients. As Dr Nanjundaiah, District Surgeon, explained, “We are intimidated about the organ donation to Jeevasarthakathe (state government body that coordinates organ transplantation) and hospitals that were in need of organs were recognized.”
The kidneys of Dalu were donated to recipients registered with JSS Hospital in Mysuru even as expert doctors Dr Vijay and Dr Manjunath Shetty, who visited the District Hospital to retrieve the kidney conducted the transplantation in Mysuru. Further, corneas were transplanted to registered recipients at Mysuru Medical College.
Since the functioning of the heart of Dalu was slow, the heart valves were retrieved and the transplant was done at a private hospital in Bengaluru. “However, we could not find a recipient for lungs and hence we did not remove Dalu’s lungs,” Dr Nanjundaiah confirmed. He added that since Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences has already been accredited by SOTTO and NOTTO, the case was reported to the State Organ and SOTTO. The organ procurement process was carried out under the guidance of SOTTO.
The operation was carried out under the leadership of KoIMS Dean Dr Lokesh AJ., Hospital Superintendent Dr. Somashekar and District Surgeon Dr. Nanjundaiah. ICU team Dr. Nishid Joseph and Nursing Officer Pawan worked tirelessly to keep the patient’s condition stable.
In the surgery that began at 2 am on Saturday, two kidneys, heart valves and eye corneas were successfully harvested. Neurosurgeons Dr. Sachin Dharwadkar and Dr. Vijayakumar, who arrived from Mysore, carried out the kidney harvest. Dr. Abhinandan and Dr. Chandrashekar collected the heart valves, and Dr. Shruti and the team collected the corneas. Nursing staff Jayashree, Anil and Manjunath and senior nursing officers Vasanth and Mahesh performed the task efficiently.
Meanwhile, Dalu’s remains were handed over to the family through a ‘walk of honour’ after the medical experts honored the donor’s service.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Express News Service / May 23rd, 2026
After Dubare tourist death, Karnataka to replace open camper vehicles used for wildlife safaris
The order comes after a 33-year-old woman tourist died during a clash between two elephants at the Dubare Elephant Camp in Kodagu.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes a safari in an open camper vehicle at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve on Sunday. (File photo)
Synopsis:
Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has directed officials to replace open camper vehicles with secured buses for safari operations across the State’s tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries after a tourist died at the Dubare Elephant Camp in Kodagu. He also ordered officials to fit existing safari vehicles with iron-bar grills or shatterproof glass, equip them with first-aid kits, and ensure ambulance services.
Karnataka Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre has directed officials to replace open camper vehicles with buses for safari operations across the State’s five tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.
The order comes after a 33-year-old woman tourist died during a clash between two elephants at the Dubare Elephant Camp in Kodagu.
Khandre said the State would replace open camper vehicles with fully secured buses to improve tourists’ safety during safaris. As an interim measure, existing vehicles will be fitted with iron-bar grills or shatterproof glass, he said.
He further directed officials to equip every safari vehicle with a first-aid kit and ensure ambulance services near safari centres and elephant camps.
Dubare incident
On Monday, May 18, 33-year-old Juneshe was crushed to death at the Dubare Elephant Camp in Kodagu after she was caught in a fight between two Dasara elephants, Kanjan and Jai Marthanda.
Jai Marthanda was being bathed by tourists as part of an activity offered at the camp when Kanjan was brought nearby to drink water.
Kanjan then reportedly attacked Jai Marthanda, triggering a clash between the two elephants.
During the fight, one of the elephants reportedly lost balance and fell on the tourist, who was taking part in the bathing activity. Jai Marthanda sustained injuries to its head, ears and back during the fight. The elephant succumbed to its injuries the next day.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Anisha Reddy)
source: http://www.thesouthfirst.com / South First / Home / South First Desk / by Dese Gowda and inputs Anisha Reddy / May 21st, 2026
