The youngest victim was 13 years old
Festival organizers have decided to halt the event
The annual Hindu festival participants are performing the traditional dance, Garba, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, West India, on the 21st. / AFP=Yonhap News
Local media, including NDTV, reported on the 23rd (local time) that at least 10 people died while performing a traditional dance at a Hindu festival in Gujarat, western India.
According to the reports, these deaths occurred in major cities of Gujarat within 24 hours.
The exact cause of death is not clarified, but authorities suspect many died of heart attacks.
The victims ranged from teenagers to middle-aged individuals, with the youngest being 13.
The Garba is a traditional Gujarat dance performed by these individuals. It is a staple at the annual Hindu festival Navratri, which honors the goddess Durga.
The festival takes place over nine nights, starting from October 15th.
NDTV reported that authorities received over 500 calls for ambulances in 24 hours. In response, the state government declared an emergency and directed festival organizers to implement emergency measures, including ensuring the availability of ambulances.
Emergency calls were primarily made between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m.
The state government requested all public hospitals and health centers near the dance venues to be on emergency duty.
They also asked festival organizers to station individuals trained in CPR at the festival grounds.
Medical professionals advised festival participants not to dance the Garba for extended periods without rest. Some festival organizers decided to halt the event.
Local media warned that intense movements could lead to cardiovascular side effects, urging those with medical conditions to refrain from participating.
IndiaTV, reporting the incident, explained that a heart attack can occur if the blood vessels supplying blood and oxygen to the heart suddenly become blocked, typically due to the buildup of fat or cholesterol.
They added that those with high blood pressure or diabetes should avoid the Garba dance.
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