Madhya Pradesh: Teen Student Collapses and Dies During Ganesh Immersion in Betul; Family Blames Loud DJ Sound
A 17-year-old student, Pratiksha Verma, died after collapsing during a Ganesh immersion procession at JH College in Betul, Madhya Pradesh. While her family alleged that loud DJ music aggravated a childhood heart condition, police said no link has been established yet. Authorities have launched an investigation, with the exact cause of death awaiting a postmortem report.
A 17-year-old BSc first-year student died after suddenly becoming unconscious during a Ganesh idol immersion procession at JH College in Madhya Pradesh's Betul on Friday night, September 25. The student's family alleged that the loud DJ sound at the procession may have caused her condition to deteriorate. Police said the exact cause of death will be known only after the postmortem.
The deceased, identified as Pratiksha Verma, was a resident of Sohagpur Dhana in the Shahpur police station area and was staying in a rented accommodation in Betul for her studies, India Today reported. The incident occurred between 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm while students and locals had gathered on the college campus to participate in the immersion rituals. Two Youths Die During Ganesh Idol Immersion in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa.
Student Collapses and Dies During Ganesh Immersion in Betul
According to police, Pratiksha had gone to JH College to attend the Ganesh immersion procession and have darshan of the idol. She suddenly complained of dizziness and was taken to the side by people accompanying her. When her condition did not improve, she was rushed to the district hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
Her friend Vedika Sanotiya, who was with her at the college, said the two had gone together for darshan. According to Vedika, after they had darshan and clicked photographs, the DJ started playing and Pratiksha suddenly felt dizzy and became unconscious. Attempts were made to give her water before she was taken to the hospital. Attending medical staff noted that the student was unresponsive upon arrival, with preliminary assessments pointing toward suspected sudden cardiac arrest. Balrampur: School Girl Dies After Collapsing as Ganpati Immersion Procession Plays Loud DJ Music Nearby (Disturbing Video).
Pratiksha's aunt Preeti Verma alleged that the loud DJ sound at the college had caused her niece's health to deteriorate. She said Pratiksha had a hole in her heart during childhood, but had undergone treatment for four to five years and had not faced any such problem for a long time.
Her relatives claimed that the high-decibel bass and reverberation from the sound system triggered acute physical distress, demanding action against the operators if noise regulations were breached.
Police, however, said no evidence has so far established a link between the DJ sound and Pratiksha's death. Betul Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Annapurna Sirsam said the student had complained of dizziness after darshan and was taken to the district hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
Police also said the family had informed them about Pratiksha having had a hole in her heart during childhood. However, her relatives said she had received treatment and had been doing well for several years.
The police have started an investigation and the student's body will be subjected to a postmortem. The exact cause of death will be determined after the postmortem report. Officials added that investigators are also verifying whether permissible decibel thresholds were adhered to by the sound organizers during the campus event.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2026 11:47 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
