Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya on Friday, 9 October 2025, confirmed that 87 security personnel — deployed in Gandhinagar for preparations ahead of the National Unity Day parade at the Statue of Unity — had been admitted to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital over a 10-day period. Of these, 50 have been discharged after recovery, while 37 remain under treatment, all in stable and improving condition, with none in a critical state.

One Death Under Investigation

The outbreak has been overshadowed by the death of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, identified as 26-year-old Amal Barman, who had tested positive for dengue. According to hospital officials, Barman's platelet count dropped sharply and he subsequently developed severe chest pain. Doctors performed cardiac investigations including an electrocardiogram (ECG) and shifted him to the intensive care unit (ICU), where he died despite treatment.

Minister Pansheriya said a cardiac arrest or heart attack was suspected, but stressed that the precise cause of death would only be confirmed after the final post-mortem report. Sharing the preliminary medical assessment, he noted that the personnel may have continued strenuous physical exercise despite having a fever and other discomfort, potentially contributing to the cardiac event. 'This is an extremely sad and shocking incident. Losing a personnel serving the country is a great loss for all of us. We share the grief of the bereaved family of the deceased personnel and, on behalf of the entire state government, extend our deepest condolences to the family members,' Pansheriya said.

Who the Affected Personnel Are

The hospitalised personnel belong to three central paramilitary forces: the Border Security Force (BSF), the CRPF, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). They had arrived from multiple states — including Odisha, Jharkhand, Delhi, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh — to participate in rehearsals for the Ekta Diwas parade at Ekta Nagar, scheduled for 31 October.

How the Outbreak Unfolded

The cases emerged among personnel housed in temporary accommodation within newly constructed government housing in Gandhinagar's Sectors 28 and 29. The Health Department had earlier flagged water accumulation at the premises, raising concerns about mosquito breeding — a primary vector for dengue transmission. Authorities subsequently ordered intensive fogging, anti-larval operations, fever surveillance, and patient tracking. Notably, by 7 October, 43 dengue-positive personnel were already admitted to the hospital's indoor wards, according to the hospital's Resident Medical Officer, Dr Vipula Pandya.

Response and Preventive Measures

Pansheriya visited the hospital, met admitted personnel, and reviewed treatment protocols with Medical Superintendent Dr Meeta Parikh and her team. He directed hospital authorities to ensure adequate water, nutritious meals, fresh fruit, fruit juice, and salads in line with medical advice. He also reviewed the availability of blood and platelets for patients requiring transfusions and instructed doctors to provide immediate treatment when needed.

The Health Department has deployed specialist resident doctors and intensified preventive measures at accommodation sites. Teams are conducting fogging twice daily and spraying insecticides, while a dedicated team monitors health and hygiene at the sites round the clock. The ministry is also tracking whether any new cases emerge among arriving contingents ahead of the 31 October parade.