Neurologist warns ‘brain is terrible at multitasking’ after Shashi Tharoor stumbles on Parliament steps

According to Dr Sudhir Kumar, the brain finds it difficult to juggle climbing stairs and being on a phone call at the same time.

Shashi Tharoor, taking a brief tumble down some steps in the outdoor Parliament complex on February 4, is a stark reminder that accidents can befall anyone who is not mindful of their surroundings.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in a wheelchair after he tripped and fell on the stairs of Parliament complex on Wednesday during the Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Thursday, February 5, 2026.(PTI)

In a video shared on social media by the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram himself, Tharoor is seen speaking on his mobile phone while trying to walk down a crowded stair. In the blink of an eye, he misses a step and falls, before being helped up by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and the other officials present at the scene.

In light of the accident, Hyderabad-based neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar took to X on February 5 to highlight the underlying cause and explain why it is necessary to take a break from the phone while walking or climbing stairs.

According to Dr Kumar, the brain is “terrible” at multitasking, that is, carrying on a conversation on the phone while moving. It is even worse when the movement comprises going down the stairs.

When an individual goes downstairs, the brain occupies itself with the following functions:

• Maintain balance
• Depth perception
• Foot placement
• Split-second corrections

The additional task of a phone call shifts the attention and drops the reaction time of the brain. This is all it takes for a mishap.

“As a neurologist, I can tell you, some of the worst head injuries I see come from simple falls, not big accidents,” noted Dr Kumar.

Safety measures to be taken

Dr Kumar advised avoiding using the phone while performing the following tasks:

• Going up or down stairs
• Crossing roads
• Walking on uneven surfaces
• Driving/riding

“Your brain can focus on movement or on your phone. Not both safely,” he cautioned. It is “too valuable to risk for a notification.”

The simplest safety hack to follow is:

• Pause the call.
• Look at the steps.
• Hold the railing.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.