10 heart-attack deaths at Garba shocks Gujarat

Around 10 people have died of heart attack while performing Garba during Navratri celebrations in Gujarat in the last 24 hours. Following the deaths, the state government has issued an alert to all government hospitals and community health centers (CHCs) near Garba venues. All the hospitals have been put on high alert.

Before the Narvratri festivities this year, three people in Gujarat died due to a heart attack while practicing Garba.

In an incident that struck a sad note to Navratri celebrations on the sixth day, a 17-year-old boy died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while playing Garba in Kapadvanj Kheda district.

The victims ranged from teenagers to middle-aged people, with the youngest being a 13-year-old boy from Dabhoi, Baroda.

Garba organisers have also been instructed to create corridors for ambulances to enter the events swiftly in case of emergencies.

On Friday, a 24-year-old man from Ahmedabad suddenly collapsed while playing Garba and died. Similarly, a 17-year-old boy from Kapadwanj also died while playing Garba. A series of similar cases have been reported in the state in the past day.

In addition to this, over the first six days of Navratri, the 108 emergency ambulance services received 521 calls for heart-related issues and an additional 609 calls for breathlessness. These calls were recorded between 6 pm and 2 am, when Garba celebrations usually take place.

This alarming trend has prompted both the government and event organisers to take action.