Ahmedabad: In an alarming development, at least 10 people lost their lives in Gujarat while performing Garba during Navratri celebrations in a span of 24 hours.
The victims ranged from teenagers to middle-aged people, the youngest being a 13-year-old boy from Vadodara, reported India Today.
This scary trend has forced the state government to issue a directive to all government hospitals and community health centres (CHCs) near Garba venues, asking them to be on high alert.
The government also instructed Garba organisers to create corridor for ambulance to enter the event venue quickly in case of an emergency.
Garba organisers are also taking steps to ensure safety of participants by having doctors and ambulances at the venues. They have also been advised to provide CPR training to the staff and ensure ample availability of water for participants.
A 24-year-old man from Ahmedabad suddenly collapsed while taking part in Garba on Friday and died. A 17-year-old boy from Kapadwanj also died while playing Garba. There were at least half a dozen similar cases reported from different parts of the state in the previous 24 hours.
Apart from the spate of deaths in the last 24 hours, the first six days of Navratri saw the 108 emergency ambulance services receiving 521 calls for heart-related issues and 609 calls for breathlessness. A majority of these calls were recorded between 6 pm and 2 am, when Garba celebrations usually take place.
