Karwar: A 64-year old senior citizen died after collapsing while standing in a queue to avail a health card under ‘Ayushman Bharat, Arogya Karnataka’, being distributed at the District Hospital in the City on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Tukaram Tandel, a resident of Mudga in Karwar taluk.

According to the sources, the health cards are being distributed in the district hospital from 10:00 am on Wednesday, however, Tukaram along with many others was standing in a beeline from 7:00 am itself. At 9:30 am, he fell unconscious and was rushed to the emergency ward, where he breathed his last after failing to respond to the treatment.

There was a crowd in the district hospital seeking health cards. When the people started making noise, police interfered and appealed the people to get the applications peacefully. However, when the people were inconvincible, police staff distributed applications to all.

At present, both the applications and health cards are being distributed at the District Hospital in Karwar. This has caused trouble for the people of Bhatkal, Honnavar and Mundagod taluks to visit the city and get the work done.

One Poornima Mahekar of Karwar demanded the department concerned to distribute the applications from respective taluk hospitals. She asked the officials to take immediate measures in this regard to facilitate the public.

After the incident, Deputy Commissioner K Harish Kumar has received a statement from ‘Suvarna Araogya Suraksha Trust’s District Co-ordinator Pallavi D’Souza, who has been given the responsibility of distribution of cards.

He also warned her of taking disciplinary actions, if such incidents were repeated. He also conducted a meeting with health department officials.