19-year-old dies of cardiac arrest while playing garba at Goregaon Navratri event

A 19-year-old man died after collapsing while playing garba during Navratri in Goregaon, Mumbai. He suddenly fell while dancing at 'Sejal Raas Utsav 2026', held at the Gokul Ganesh Maidan (Emerald AC Dome) in Goregaon West. His name was Jay Hitesh Charla. He was from Adhoi village in Gujarat's Kutch district and had come to Mumbai to enjoy Navratri.

On Monday night, the Gokul Ganesh Maidan had a large crowd of garba players. Young men and women were dancing with great enthusiasm to the music. Jay was in the garba circle with his friends and others. Everything was going well when Jay suddenly felt dizzy and fell heavily to the ground.

Seeing him fall, boys playing nearby and others present rushed to him. Attempts were made to support him and bring him back to consciousness. Some people at the spot immediately began CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), but it was of no use. He was taken to the nearby Prarthana Hospital, where doctors declared him dead after examining him, before treatment could begin.

According to preliminary information from doctors, Jay had some pre-existing heart problems. The doctors said garba puts sudden and considerable strain on the body and makes the heartbeat rise rapidly. According to the doctors, Jay had a prior heart condition, and this physical strain led to a severe cardiac arrest in which he died.

The incident caused panic among those at the garba ground, and the festive mood turned to silence in a moment. The incident, which took place in the last phase of Navratri, sent a wave of grief through organisers, devotees and garba enthusiasts.

The organisers expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and to the 'Shree Vagad Visha Oswal Chovisi Mahajan' community, and immediately cancelled all scheduled programmes for the last night of Navratri. They issued an official statement expressing deep sorrow over the incident, apologised to those attending the festival and appealed for support in this difficult time.

According to health experts, cases of heart disease appear to be rising among young people aged 19 to 30. They say that playing garba with great intensity and at a fast pace for long periods without a break puts sudden strain on the heart. The experts say young people often do not know they have a heart condition, or ignore it. The same experts advised resting at intervals during garba or any physical exertion, drinking plenty of water, and stopping immediately on feeling dizzy or tired.