In the dark-ness of the Anmod Ghat forest, with no hospi-tal nearby, no mobile signal to call for help and a close friend desperately rac-ing against time through a lonely highway, renowned physiotherapist and social worker Dr Ketan Bhatikar spent the final moments of his life battling the dead-ly effects of a highly toxic snake bite.
What began as a routine late-night drive back from Dandeli ended in unimagi nable tragedy — a sudden, helpless and horrifying se quence of events that has left Goa in shock. Dr Bhatikar, 41, died in the early hours of Friday after he was bitten by a snake near the Karnata ka check-post at Anmod Ghat. Despite frantic ef forts by his friend Sushant Kavlekar to save him, the absence of immediate medical facilities and poor mobile connectivity in the forested stretch proved fatal. According to Sushant Kavlekar, they were return ing to Goa after meeting a friend in Dandeli on Thurs day night. At around 1.30 am, Dr Bhatikar reportedly asked Sushant to stop the car near the roadside so he could answer nature’s call. In a cruel twist of fate, his mobile phone slipped from his hand while he was standing there. As he bent down to pick it up, a snake allegedly bit him on the wrist. Moments later, he re turned to the vehicle and informed Sushant that something had bitten him. What followed was a terri fying race against time. As the vehicle sped through the dark ghat roads towards Goa, Dr Bhatikar’s condition rapidly deterio rated. His body reportedly began losing control and he gradually slipped into unconsciousness while Su shant desperately searched for medical help. The crisis was com pounded by the complete lack of mobile network in the forest stretch, leav ing Sushant unable to im mediately contact emer gency services or family members.
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Only after regaining signal several minutes later could he alert Dr Bhatikar’s brother, Dr Koutuk Bhatikar, and re quest that a 108 ambulance be arranged at Mollem. By then, every passing minute had become critical. Sushant reportedly had to manage the medical emergen cy alone while simultaneously driving nearly 40 kilometres through the winding Anmod Ghat roads. Traffic congestion caused by an accident further slowed the journey. An ambulance finally reached the Primary Health Centre at Piliem, Dharbandora at around 3.30 am. However, doc tors declared Dr Bhatikar brought dead at approximately 3.45 am. The tragedy has triggered widespread grief across Goa, not only because of the suddenness of his death, but also because many believe the outcome may have been differ ent had emergency medical access been available sooner. Family members and close associates pointed to the ab sence of nearby healthcare infrastructure and poor con nectivity in the area as factors that contributed to the delay in treatment.
The post-mortem examination later confirmed the cause of death as “cerebral and pulmonary edema consequent to neurotoxic snake bite poisoning.” Police surgeons found two fang marks on Dr Bhatikar’s right wrist, indicating that the snake may have struck twice. Ponda DySP Shivram Vaigankar said the venom caused severe respiratory complications and rapidly affected vital organs, eventually leading to brain death. The autopsy was conducted under videography by a team comprising two surgeons and a pathologist. Collem police have registered a case of unnatural death and further investigations are un derway. As news of Dr Bhatikar’s death spread through social media in the early morning hours, disbelief quickly turned into grief. Hundreds of supporters, patients, friends and well-wishers began arriving at his residence from dawn it self, struggling to come to terms with the loss of a man as compassionate, energetic and deeply committed to public service.
Widely respected as a skilled physiotherapist and social worker, Dr Bhatikar had built strong connections across communities through his medical practice, public speaking and political involvement. He had filed his nomination as Congress candidate for Ponda constituency by-election which was later cancelled by the High Court. He was previously associated with the MGP. Despite his active public life, those close to him often spoke of his unfulfilled dream of becoming an MLA one day. On Friday evening, thousands gathered at the Ponda Mu nicipal Muktidham crematorium to bid him a final farewell.
