Girl suffocates to death at Skrillex event in Gurgaon

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, October 12

American EDM superstar Skrillex aka Sonny John Moore’s Gurgaon concert on Sunday, was marred by controversy, as a 23-year-old Delhi resident died due to suffocation.

The deceased, Aanchal Arora, a student of Apparel Institute lived in Pitampura and had come to attend the event at the HUDA Grounds in Sector 29. During the concert she started feeling breathless and was rushed to a private hospital, where she breathed her last. One of her friend, who accompanied her to the concert, is still critical.

The doctors reportedly told the family that Aanchal suffered a cardiac arrest owing to suffocation and hypoxia. Her family went to the Sector 29 police station seeking for a post-mortem exam, and a case of negligence against the organisers and all concerned agencies.

Her family claimed it was sheer mismanagement on the organisers’ part as the venue was packed to capacity. The family’s claim was verified as highly-placed officials said, “The permission letter submitted by the organisers mentioned a maximum of 6,000 people, but nearly 15,000 people turned up for the concert. The organisers were not prepared and neither did they officially seek any additional help from police.”

When DC TL Stayaprakash was contacted, he said, “We will look into the matter and conduct and enquiry.”

DCP Crime Deepak Sahran said, “During Skrillex’s concert on Sunday, Aanchal Arora (23), developed medical complications during the event and collapsed on the spot. She was rushed to Max Hospital in an ambulance provided by the show organisers, where she was declared brought dead.” The police have also registered an FIR against Scoop Brand Holdings Private Limited, for violating excise norms.