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“Local media reported on Monday, October 23, that at least ten people, one of whom was a 13-year-old boy, tragically lost their lives to heart attacks after participating in traditional Garba dances in the western state of Gujarat, India.
Garba is an exuberant, traditional Gujarati dance performed during the nine-day Hindu festival of Navaratri, dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga.
The victims ranged in age from teenagers to middle-aged adults, with the youngest being a 13-year-old boy from Vadodara’s Dabhoi district.
News18 reported that the high number of heart attack deaths may be attributed to pre-existing medical conditions, prolonged fasting, unhealthy eating habits, and a lack of awareness about the prevalence of heart health issues in India.
These unfortunate deaths, all occurring within a 24-hour period, have once again raised concerns about the overall health of Indians and their vulnerability to cardiac problems.
The youngest fatality, 13-year-old Vaibhav Soni, reportedly fell from his bicycle while returning from a Garba event in Vadodara district on Saturday. He was initially taken to the hospital with minor injuries, then discharged after some tests. However, he later complained of chest pain and did not wake up after being sent to bed at home. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead due to a heart attack.
Another teenage victim was Veer Shah, aged 17, who began to feel unwell and experienced a nosebleed while participating in Garba in Kheda district on Saturday night. He was promptly rushed to the hospital but, unfortunately, suffered a fatal heart attack.
Similar incidents were reported in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, Navsari, and Rajkot districts.
Authorities disclosed that over a 24-hour period when these deaths were reported, ambulance services received more than 500 calls related to heart problems, along with around 600 calls regarding individuals experiencing breathlessness during the first six days of the festival, which commenced on October 15 this year.
In response, the state government has urged Garba organizers to ensure the availability of ambulances and has ordered community health centers near Garba venues to be on high alert.
Cardiologist Anurag Mehrotra suggested that the heart attacks suffered by these young Garba dancers may be attributed to the lack of regular exercise among Indian youth. Dr. Mehrotra, who heads the cardiology department at Siddh Hospital in Uttar Pradesh state, stated on the NDTV news channel, “If you engage in unfamiliar, strenuous physical activity, these incidents can occur.”
