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In the past 24 hours, Gujarat has witnessed at least 10 deaths due to heart attacks occurring at garba events, with the youngest victim being only 17 years old. Over 500 ambulance calls were made within this timeframe, prompting the government to issue an alert and request event organizers to take necessary precautions, including ensuring the availability of ambulances for transporting people to hospitals if they feel unwell.
One tragic incident occurred in Kapadvanj, Kheda district, where a 17-year-old named Veer Shah felt unwell and experienced nosebleeds while participating in a garba event. He was immediately rushed to a hospital, but by the time his parents arrived, he had already been declared dead, with a heart attack cited as the cause.
Ripal Shah, Veer's father, made an emotional plea to other revelers, urging them to stay aware and not engage in prolonged garba sessions without taking breaks, in the hope of preventing similar tragedies.
Upon learning of Veer's death, participants at the event observed a two-minute silence in his memory, and the organizers decided to cancel the event for the following day. Similar cases, including deaths of individuals in their 20s, have also been reported in Ahmedabad, Navsari, and Rajkot.
In a shocking case, a 13-year-old in Vadodara district's Dabhoi died of a heart attack. Vaibhav Soni, who had attended a garba event, fell from his bicycle, sustaining minor injuries. He was taken to a hospital, where tests were conducted, and he was discharged. Later, he complained of chest pain and was taken back to the hospital, but he was declared dead. It remains unclear whether his heart attack was related to Garba.
Dr. Anurag Mehrotra, chairman of the cardiology department at Siddh Hospital, highlighted that a significant portion of the Indian population is affected by diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, all of which can contribute to heart artery issues. He emphasized that coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes are occurring at younger ages in India, and the population needs to adopt healthier lifestyles to combat these trends.
Dr. Mehrotra recommended that event organizers have automated external defibrillators on hand, along with individuals trained in CPR, to respond to medical emergencies. He also stressed the importance of improving lifestyle choices, being less sedentary, and reducing consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods.
