Youngest was 17...
Over the last 24 hours, ten people lost their lives while dancing Garba at Navratri celebrations in Gujarat. These individuals, spanning various age groups, included a 13-year-old boy from Dabhoi, Baroda.
On Friday, an incident occurred in Ahmedabad where a 24-year-old man tragically collapsed while participating in Garba and subsequently passed away. In a separate occurrence, a 17-year-old boy from Kapadwanj also lost his life while engaging in Garba. Over the past day, the state has witnessed a string of similar cases.
Furthermore, during the initial six days of Navratri, the 108 emergency ambulance services responded to 521 calls related to heart issues and an additional 609 calls concerning breathlessness. These incidents primarily occurred between 6 pm and 2 am, coinciding with the typical Garba celebration hours.
Once again, this worrisome pattern has prompted both government authorities and event organizers to take decisive action.
The state government issued a notification to all government hospitals and community health centers (CHCs) in proximity to Garba venues, advising them to remain on heightened alert.
Garba organizers have been told to make clear paths for ambulances to reach the events quickly during emergencies.
In addition, Garba organizers have implemented safety measures to protect participants. They have stationed doctors and ambulances at the venues and are advised to train their staff in CPR. Additionally, they are ensuring an adequate supply of water for the attendees.
Before this year's Navratri festivities, three people in Gujarat lost their lives to heart attacks while participating in Garba practice sessions.
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