It was on Sunday, late in the evening, the 49-year-old businessman Parag Desai died at an Ahmedabad private hospital. At the time of death, he was serving the position of Executive Director of the Wagh Bakri Tea Group, one of the leading packaged tea companies in India, which has an annual turnover of Rs 2,000 crore. He was died of a brain haemorrhage but the discussion tables, business circles, and news rooms went a roller coaster as he was hospitalized after falling down being chased by some stray dogs. The “news’, those were spread initially recorded Mr Desai’s death as an after effect of attacks from the street dogs. And now the hospital in which he was admitted initially has come up with an explanation.
The incident occurred at a street near to Mr Desai’s residence. After being chased by some stray dogs, he fell down and went unconscious. Even though rushed to hospital, he was not responding and eventually suffered a brain haemorrhage. He died after being on a ventilator for seven days, and last rites were reportedly conducted at the Thaltej crematorium at 9 am on Monday.
The news went circulated as Mr Desai was suffering from injuries by the dog attack. But the Shalby Multi-Speciality Hospital, where he was admitted initially, recently issued an official statement rejecting the news. The statement reads, “the patient fell down after being chased by dogs but… there were no dog bite marks on his body”. According to the CT scan, an acute subdural hematoma with bilateral frontal contusion was reported. He was at first held under observation in the ICU at the Shalby hospital, but later discharged on request of the relatives and shifted Zydus, where he underwent surgery.
Late Shri Parag Desai did not die due to any dog attack stated by SHALBY Multi-Speciality Hospital where he was admitted post to brain haemorrhage. pic.twitter.com/rVZtPLrb1L
— People For Animals India (@pfaindia) October 24, 2023
Mr Desai had over 30 years of entrepreneurship experience and headed international business, sales, and marketing for the tea group. Several business people and political leaders expressed condolences to demise. Deputy Leader of Shiv Sena and Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Vickram Chaturvedi took to her X (formerly Twitter) handle and said that the state is in verge of a demand for a “pro-active policy” to handle the stray dog menace. She even called for active stray animal shelters and vaccinations for them, in belief that Mr Desa’s death was caused by stray dogs.
Parag Desai’s death is tragic and was avoidable. My heartfelt condolences to his family.
We really need to have a pro active policy in place to handle the stray dog menace- active stray animal shelters especially dogs, neutering them, their vaccinations etc.
I have seen many… pic.twitter.com/sM16xtm4IR— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) October 23, 2023