Parag Desai, the Executive Director of The Wagh Bakri Tea Group, died at the age of 49 at a private hospital in Ahmedabad late on Sunday evening. Mr Desai after being chased by some stray dogs, fell down and went unconscious. Even though rushed to hospital, he who was not responding and eventually suffered a brain haemorrhage.

He died after being on a ventilator for seven days. Mr Desai is survived by wife Vidisha and daughter Parisha. His last rites were reportedly conducted at the Thaltej crematorium at 9 am today.

He had over 30 years of entrepreneurship experience and headed international business, sales, and marketing for the tea group. He was attended first by Ahmedabad’s Shalby hospital and then shifted to Zydus Hospital for surgery. Several business people and political leaders expressed condolences to demise.

Meanwhile, several news” had been spread that Mr Desai”s death was caused after being chased by dogs, but the Shalby Multi-Speciality Hospital apparently 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

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 called for active stray animal shelters and vaccinations for them.

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

MP and Gujarat Congress President Shaktisinh Gohil expressed his condolences on social media.

Very sad news coming in. Parag Desai, Director and owner Wagh Bakri Tea passed away. He had a brain haemorrhage following a fall.
May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to the entire Wagh Bakri family across India. pic.twitter.com/Md0xLppL2X

— Shaktisinh Gohil MP (@shaktisinhgohil) October 22, 2023