Pune 6th August 2025: In preparation for this year’s Ganeshotsav, a new initiative named ‘Sanjeevani’ has been launched in Pune to train festival volunteers in life-saving techniques such as CPR and basic first aid. This effort is driven by a real-life emergency during the 2024 immersion procession on Kumthekar Road, where a quick-thinking medical student managed to revive a person who had suffered a heart attack using CPR.
Recognising the need for proper emergency response, the Aadar Foundation Pune and the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Pune branch, have collaborated to introduce ‘Sanjeevani’, a first-of-its-kind training campaign. Through this programme, experienced doctors will train medical students, volunteers, and members of dhol-tasha troupes in essential emergency response skills.
The sessions will cover basic life support techniques like CPR, handling cases of fainting, asthma attacks, and seizures. The aim is to ensure that in the event of a medical emergency during the processions, trained volunteers can respond quickly and correctly.
These trained 'Sanjeevani volunteers' will be deployed during the Ganesh immersion processions at key routes such as Laxmi Road, Kumthekar Road, and Tilak Road. Their role will be to offer immediate assistance until professional medical help arrives.
Dr. Sanjay Patil, a trustee of the Indian Medical Association, recalled last year’s incident where a medical student and drummer, saved a life by administering CPR during the immersion. He noted that many bystanders, unaware of proper emergency protocols, had initially offered incorrect help like forcefully giving water or using traditional remedies like smelling onions. These actions could have worsened the situation. “That incident made it clear how important life-saving training is during large public events,” he said.
The initiative is being coordinated by IMA Pune President Dr. Sunil Ingle, Secretary Dr. Ranjit Ghatge, and Dr. Anjali Sabane, along with Aadar Foundation’s Swanand Patil, Tanvi Kelkar, and Atharva Paranjape.
Through this proactive step, Pune aims to make this year’s Ganeshotsav not just grand and vibrant, but also safer.