A huge crowd bids farewell to Dr Bhatikar as his mortal remains are taken from his Silvanagar residence to the crematorium on Friday.
PANAJI/PONDA
Goa plunged into mourning from pre-dawn hours of Friday as news trickled in that Dr Ketan Bhatikar, a reputed physiotherapist and the Congress candidate in last month's cancelled Ponda by election, had died tragically from a snakebite.
At Anmod Ghat on the return journey from Dandeli, Bhatikar had briefly stopped by the roadside and amidst pouring rain his mobile slipped from his hand. As he bent to pick it up in the dark, a venomous snake struck his right hand and within minutes, his condition deteriorated.
He was rushed in a 108 ambulance to the Dharbandora Health Centre at 3:32 am. But the venom had already spread rapidly and despite frantic efforts by the medical staff there, he was declared dead at 3:45 am.
The report of the post mortem has confirmed that Bhatikar died due to a venomous snakebite.
It was conducted at the South Goa District Hospital at Margao by a team of three doctors headed by Dr Andre Fernandes, Professor and Head of GMC's Department of Forensic Medicine. Drs Sunil Chimbolkar, lecturer GMC, and Ciano Fernandes, Senior Pathologist at SGDH, were the other two members of the team which conducted the post-mortem examination.
Initially, the exact cause of death was unclear when the doctor at the Dharbandora PHC declared him dead. The autopsy revealed that venom had spread swiftly through his body, leading to organ failure.
Dr Bhatikar was more than a medical professional: a social worker who many vouch had served selflessly. His work during the Covid pandemic had earned him wide respect.
The tragedy has shaken Goa’s medical fraternity and political circles alike with leaders from across the political spectrum expressing grief.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, and Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar all paid tribute.
Ironically, the Supreme Court was scheduled to hear his petition on Friday challenging the Bombay High Court’s decision cancelling the May 9 Ponda by-election.
His friend Sushant Kavalekar, who was with him on the trip, recalled that the rain was relentless and the road was mud soaked.
"My hands and feet went numb. Nothing seemed possible,” Kavalekar said, adding that Bhatikar bent to pick up his phone and soon suffered seizures.
