Project Dhadkan: Learn how to save lives — in a heartbeat

Project Dhadkan is a nationwide initiative to provide training on how to administer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

An AED demonstration; Dr Jadgish Hiremath (extreme left)

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It could happen at the workplace, on a road, at the gym or at home. Sudden cardiac arrests mostly happen outside hospitals, which is why survival rate is poor, says Dr Sunil Sathe.

Sathe is a consulting cardiologist at Ruby Hall Clinic and, along with cardiologist Dr Jagdish Hiremath, is part of Project Dhadkan, a nationwide initiative to provide training on how to administer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

CPR training at Kaveri college, Pune

“A number of cases have started surfacing and reported at gyms or public places. This can be devastating. In most situations, the person will almost certainly die without immediate intervention,” Sathe told The Indian Express.

“Bystander CPR, hence, can increase a person’s chances of survival and if an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine is used in time, the chances of survival are very high,” says Dr Kinjal Goyal, a Pune-based member of the Revive Heart Foundation, which is behind Project Dhadkan.

“So far the foundation has trained over 5.5 lakh people in CPR through online and offline sessions across the country,” says Goyal.

Dr Kinjal Goyal, Dr Sunil Sathe, Dr Jagdish Hiremath and Hemant Shirguppi, president, Rotary Club of Pune, Laxmi Road

Around 45 cardiologists across the country are involved in Project Dhadkan. And in Pune, the drive is being led by Sathe and Hiremath along with the Rotary Club on Laxmi Road.

The city’s first edition was conducted in September last year and this is the second edition of the drive that will last till April 30. More than 40,000 people have been trained across schools, colleges, and corporate firms. “We have reached out to employees at Pune Police, railways and other places,” says Goyal.

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Sathe points out that CPR training must be compulsory for school and college students. In Pune and across the country, Symbiosis has been the first deemed university to make CPR training compulsory for students for a while now. “If all colleges can implement such an initiative, it will truly make a difference,” he says.

In Pune, for instance, St Mary’s school was the first to install an AED. “Every collapse is not a cardiac arrest and many a time could be a drop in blood pressure. Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating, and the brain and body do not get blood supply. In such a case, the heart must start in three minutes and it is not always possible for an ambulance to reach and initiate treatment in that short a time. Hence, CPR is like an effective first aid,” says Hiremath.

CPR is starting the heart with a massage and external shock given by AED. Subsequently, the causes of cardiac arrest are dealt with in the hospital, the cardiologists say. Their initiative also includes installing five AED systems at public places.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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