Bengaluru: Sandalwood actor ‘Power Star’ Puneeth Rajkumar passed away due to a massive heart attack at Vikram Hospital in Bengaluru today noon. The news has shocked lakhs of fans.  

Sources said that the 46-year-old actor was rushed to the hospital after he complained of discomfort while exercising in the gym. A group of doctors constantly monitored him but in vain. Doctors attributed Puneeth’s condition to severe myocardial infarction. Before heading to the gym, the actor reportedly told his family that he wanted to go to Gajanur in Chamarajanagar, his birthplace. 

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former CM B.S. Yediyurappa and his son and BJP Vice President B.Y. Vijayendra and hundreds of fans visited the hospital. A team of Police and officials from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike visited the Kanteerava Stadium where the mortal remains of Puneeth Rajkumar is expected to be kept for the public to pay their last respects. 

Puneeth Rajkumar aged 46 years was brought to the emergency department of Vikram Hospital with a history of chest pain at 11:40 am, he was non-responsive and was in Cardiac Asystole and Advanced cardiac resuscitation was initiated,” read a statement from the Vikram Hospital.

Earlier, as soon as the news of Puneeth’s hospitalisation spread, his fans started rushing to the hospital. In view of this, the Police deployed security near the hospital and also at his home. 

Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar is one of the leading actors in Sandalwood. The news has sent shockwaves across the Sandalwood industry. Shivarajkumar’s daughter Niveditha and members of Dr. Rajkumar family have rushed to the hospital. Crazy Star Ravichandran, actors Yash, Darshan, producer Rockline Venkatesh and other members of the film industry visited the hospital.  

Puneeth Rajkumar who attended the pre-release event of Bhajarangi-2 was expected to watch the same movie today. Puneeth, who was last seen on the silver screen in the movie ‘Yuvarathnaa’, was shooting for the action-packed movie ‘James’.