Gujarat: 17-Yr-Old Among 10 Killed at Garba Events; Hosps on Alert After Sudden Spike in Heart Attacks

Seventeen-year-old Veer Shah was performing Garba dance during Navratri celebrations in Gujarat’s Kapadvanj Kheda district when he suddenly complained of dizziness and became unresponsive. He was immediately given first aid and rushed to the hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

According to doctors, the teenager died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while playing Garba.

Sharing details of the incident in Veer’s case, Dr Aayush Patel, MD Medicine, said, “A team of volunteers at the scene immediately attended to him and performed a cardio-respiratory resuscitation. We monitored his vitals but found no pulse. There was no response and signs of respiration. He was given three cycles of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We shifted him to a hospital by ambulance. However, he was declared dead at the hospital.”

10 Deaths In 24 Hrs

Veer was among at least 10 people who died while performing Garba during Navratri celebrations in Gujarat during the span of 24 hours, according to a report by India Today.

Veer died on Friday, the sixth day of Navratri celebrations. A series of similar incidents were reported in the state in the past day, with victims as young as a 13-year-old boy from Dabhoi, Baroda.

Other casualties included a 28-year-old Ravi Panchal, from Ahmedabad, who suddenly collapsed while playing Garba and died on Friday night, and a 55-year-old Shankar Rana, who collapsed while swaying to the tunes in Vadodara.

As per the India Today report, the 108 emergency ambulance services in Gujarat has received 521 calls for heart-related issues and an additional 609 calls for breathlessness over the first six days of Navratri.

Most of these calls were reportedly recevined between 6 pm and 2 am, when Garba celebrations usually take place.

Govt Asks Hospitals To Be On High Alert

The sudden increase in heart-related issues has prompted both the government, as well as the event organisers to take action. The Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel-led government has urged all government hospitals and community health centers (CHCs) near Garba venues to be on high alert.

Garba organisers have also been asked to maintain special corridors for movement of ambulances in case of emergencies.

On their part, many organisers are hiring doctors and ambulances to be stationed at venues for emergencies. They are also making sure there the ample availability of water for participants.