Navratri celebrations turned sour in the state of Gujarat, as many reports of heart attack have been reported while revellers played Garba, a traditional Gujarati dance.
The garba is among the main features of Navratri festival to watch out for especially in the state of Gujarat.
As per India Today report, at least 10 people including a 13-year old died of reported heart attack in 24 hours while playing Garba/
Of the 10 died, the thirteen-year-old kid was from from Dabhoi, Baroda while other included teenagers to middle-aged adults.
As per the report, on Friday i.e. on 20 October, a Garba player from Ahmedabad, age 24, collapsed and died after passing out.
Earlier, a 17-year-old boy died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while playing Garba in Kapadvanj Kheda district.
News18 also reported a 28-year old Ahmedabad resident who collapsed while playing Garba and died on Friday night.
Another incident was reported from Vadodara, where a 55-year-old man collapsed while playing garba.
Additionally, the report stated during the first six days of Navratri, about the 108 emergency ambulance services got 609 calls for dyspnea and 521 calls for heart-related problems.
Further adding, the report stated that the calls were recorded between 6 pm and 2 am when the Garba celebrations often take place.
As per the report, the Gujarat government has issued an alert to all public hospitals and community health centres (CHCs) close to Garba sites advising them to be on high alert.
Even prior to the festival, the Gujarat government had said that organizers of commercial `Garba’ events in towns and cities had deployed ambulance and a medical team at the venue so that participants get aid immediately in case of health emergency, PTI reported.
The Health and Family Welfare Department had issued a circular regarding emergency health services at events and organizers were to be given permission only after they give an assurance about compliance.
The Ahmedabad chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had also said that people above 40 with a family history of heart disease should get a medical check-up before participating in garba dance.
The association had issued guidelines for participants and organizers of garba events in view of the rise in heart attack cases.
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