Govind Nandakumar set an example of dedication when he ran
three kilometres to his hospital after he was stuck in a signature Bengaluru
traffic jam because his patient was waiting for him. The story of the doctor’s
dedication has since gone viral on social media. Bengaluru traffic has had a reputation
for years. But the recent rains have exacerbated the problem. The doctor saw no
other option than to leave his car with his driver and run straight to the hospital.

Who is Govind Nandakumar?

Govind Nandakumar is a doctor based out of Bengaluru in
southern India’s Karnataka state. Nandakumar is a gastroenterology surgeon at
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur. The gastroenterology consultant’s qualifications
include MD, FACS, FASCRS, FSSO. Nandakumar’s areas of expertise are: advanced
laparoscopy gastrointestinal, liver, pancreas and biliary surgery, colorectal
surgery, GI and liver oncosurgery, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Why did Govind Nandakumar run?

Govind Nandakumar was on his way to the hospital when he got
stuck in a traffic jam. However, he needed to perform a crucial surgery on a
patient who was in a lot of pain. The patient, a middle-aged woman, according
to an India Today report, was suffering from gallbladder-related illness for a
long time. Doctor Nandakumar was supposed to perform a laparoscopic gallbladder
surgery on her.

However, while on the road he realised that if he remained
stuck in the jam, he would not reach the hospital in time for the surgery,
which was scheduled for 10 am. A delay in surgery would cause the patient
immense abdominal pain.

Running out of options while stuck in a jam while his team at
the hospital was readying for the surgery, Nandakumar decided to get out of his
car and run to the hospital. “I commute everyday from central Bangalore to
Manipal Hospitals, Sarjapur, which is in the Southeast of Bangalore. I left
home well in time for the surgery.”

“My
team was all set and prepared as soon as I reached the hospital. Looking at the
huge traffic, I decided to leave the car with the driver and ran towards the
hospital without thinking twice,” Nandakumar told India Today.