Govind Pansare succumbed to excessive bleeding in lungs

Communist leader Govind Pansare breathed his last in Mumbai on Friday, less than five hours after being shifted from a Kolhapur hospital.

Pansare, who was shot at in Kolhapur on February 16, passed away at Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai, on Friday night. The veteran Communist was flown to Mumbai from Kolhapur on Friday noon, in an air ambulance with two doctors from Nanavati hospital, for further treatment.

After the incident, Pansare was kept on ventilator till the last breath. In each health bulletin, doctors at Kolhapur-based Aster Aadhar hospital stated his condition to be critical, but stable.

Pansare and his wife Uma were shot at by unidentified motorcycle borne gunmen near their house in the Sagar Mal area of Kolhapur on Monday morning.

Pansare began responding to treatment 24 hours after being admitted to hospital. He received three bullet injuries in his neck, armpit, and right leg close to his knee.

Dr TP Lahane, dean, Sir JJ group of Hospitals, was closely monitoring Pansare's condition, since he was brought to Mumbai for further treatment. The doctor said, “We had been co-ordinating with the doctors from Kolhapur, and the decision of shifting the patient to Mumbai was taken by relatives and doctors treating him.”

Dr Lahane added, “After he was brought to Mumbai, he was critical but stable. However, two hours later he began bleeding, and died due to bleeding in lungs. Being a medico-legal case, the post-mortem was conducted at JJ hospital on Saturday morning and the body was handed over to his relatives. His body was sent back to Kohlapur via air ambulance.”