M.V. Guna, an advocate who witnessed Rao's collapse, said the delay in ambulance response was a major concern. He asserted that the timely arrival of emergency services could have saved Rao’s life.
Hyderabad: Another advocate died of a sudden cardiac arrest within the Telangana High Court premises on Thursday, marking the second such incident this year and the third in recent times.
Parsa Ananta Nageshwar Rao, 46, former special counsel (revenue) for the state government, collapsed in a court corridor at about 2.30 pm due to cardiac arrest. Despite immediate efforts by fellow advocates and court staff to administer first aid, he could not be saved.
The advocate’s death has left the legal fraternity in shock. Thursday’s incident follows the death of advocates Venugopal Rao on February 18, 2025, and Kallem Goverdhan Reddy on July 8, 2022, both of whom suffered fatal cardiac arrests within the High Court premises.
These repeated incidents have sparked renewed concern over the absence of emergency medical infrastructure at the court. While a dispensary exists on campus, it cannot handle life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrest. Advocates have long demanded the deployment of trained medical personnel capable of administering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and handling emergencies.
Advocate Chikkudu Prabhakar recalled that an ambulance was stationed at the court during the Covid-19 period after he filed a petition. He noted that a critical care unit has not yet been provided, despite repeated appeals from the High Court Bar Association, especially after the fatal incident in February.
M.V. Guna, an advocate who witnessed Rao's collapse, said the delay in ambulance response was a major concern. He asserted that the timely arrival of emergency services could have saved Rao’s life.
In all three incidents, bystanders attempted to intervene, but the lack of trained medical support severely hampered rescue efforts. The legal community has reiterated its call for swift administrative action. Advocate S. Ravindhar said the legal community cannot afford further preventable deaths. He added that ensuring the health and safety of those within the court premises is not just a welfare issue but a moral and professional obligation.
