Haryana: Circus Performer Dies of Suffocation After ‘Live Samadhi’ Stunt Went Wrong, Probe Launched
A 27-year-old traditional circus performer died after a 'live Samadhi' stunt allegedly went wrong in Haryana's Nuh district. Police suspect suffocation after the performer was buried alive as part of the act. Authorities are investigating the incident, while the administration is probing how the dangerous performance was held without permission.
A 27-year-old performer from a traditional village circus troupe died allegedly of suffocation after a risky "live Samadhi" stunt went wrong in Haryana's Nuh district, police said on Wednesday, July 29. The deceased, identified as Deepak from Gaunchi village in Faridabad, had reportedly performed the burial act several times in the past, in which he would emerge after remaining buried alive in a sack for up to three days. Police said he became unresponsive when associates attempted to pull him out of the pit, and he was later declared dead at a hospital.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident and are also examining how such a hazardous public performance was organised without official permission. Officials said the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem examination. Faridabad: Man Falls Ill and Dies After Consuming Frooti to Break Fast; Probe Underway.
Circus Performer Collapsed During Traditional Burial Act
According to police, Deepak entered the pit on July 23 as part of a performance in Khori village in the Tauru area of Nuh district, where his family had set up camp on a vacant plot.
Before the burial act, he entertained spectators with a series of cycling stunts. The final performance involved the "live Samadhi", in which he was placed inside a sack, lowered into a specially dug pit and covered with mounds of soil. E-Bike Battery Blast in Haryana: 55-Year-Old Dies After Electric Scooter Battery Explodes While Charging in Narnaul.
When the scheduled time came to bring him out, his associates found him unconscious. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Police Suspect Suffocation, Await Post-Mortem Report
Investigators said preliminary findings point to suffocation as the likely cause of death. "Preliminary investigations suggest suffocation under the soil as the likely cause, but the final picture will only become clear after the post-mortem report is received", Inspector Rajesh Kumar, SHO of Tauru Sadar Police Station, said.
Police said further investigations are underway to determine whether any negligence or safety lapses contributed to the incident.
Family Had Performed The Stunt For Years
According to investigators, Deepak belonged to a family of traditional performers who travelled from one village to another staging stunt-based shows. Police said he had been performing such acts for nearly 15 years.
Local residents said similar burial performances have long been part of village entertainment in the region, although the duration performers remain underground varies from a few hours to a day or two. Deepak's brother had reportedly stopped participating in the dangerous stunt.
The performances have also fuelled speculation over the years, with some claiming hidden airways or oxygen arrangements were secretly used to help performers survive underground.
Nuh District Commissioner Akhil Pilani said such dangerous performances are illegal and that authorities would investigate how the event was allowed to take place without prior approval.
The case centres on the death of a performer during a traditional burial stunt that police believe led to suffocation, with the final cause to be confirmed after the post-mortem report.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 29, 2026 04:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
