A Prominent Senior Physician Trapped in Terminal Illness Ends Life in Belagavi

Distressed by agonizing complications from late-stage lung cancer, a prominent Senior Physician 79-year-old retired doctor died by suicide using his licensed firearm at his residence on Friday morning

BELAGAVI| May 23, 2026 : The medical community in the region reacted with profound shock following the tragic demise of veteran physician Dr. Dinesh Laxman Bhatkal, who passed away at his home in the Godsewadi-Mandoli Road area. Originally hailing from Ankola taluk in Karwar district, Dr. Bhatkal had dedicated decades of his life to healthcare service before settling down post-retirement in Tilakwadi-Godsewadi.

According to local law enforcement officials, Dr. Bhatkal had been battling stage four lung cancer for the past few months, experiencing unbearable physical pain and progressive psychological distress despite undergoing active medical treatments. Early Friday morning, the physician reportedly sent a final text message to his treating doctor, stating that the thoracic agony had become intolerable and explicitly asking for support for his family. The text message also requested that the Belagavi Police Commissioner be formally updated regarding his circumstances. Shorty after, he utilized his licensed revolver on his bedroom balcony.

Upon hearing the gunshot, family members and nearby residents rushed to the spot, but the senior doctor had already succumbed to his injuries. A team from the Tilakwadi Police Station arrived promptly at the scene to conduct the initial inquest and sent the body to the District Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The deceased’s son has submitted an official statement to the investigators affirming that the family holds no suspicion of foul play against any individual, attributing the extreme step strictly to terminal medical trauma. The Tilakwadi Police have registered an accidental death report and are continuing further procedural inquiries.

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