A 23 year-old woman from Delhi collapsed and died while dancing at the concert of internationally acclaimed band Skrillex at Leisure Valley Ground on Sunday evening. She was rushed to a private hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. According to police, the post-mortem report said she “suffocated to death”.
Youngsters at the Skrillex concert in Gurgaon on Sunday evening. (HT Photo)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
The woman, identified as Anchal Arora, a resident of Pitampura, Delhi, had come to Gurgaon with her friends to attend the concert. She was dancing when she suddenly collapsed, police said. Her friends tried to give her first-aid but she did not regain consciousness. She was then rushed to a nearby hospital, police said.
Dr Deepak Mathur, forensic expert at the Civil hospital, who conducted the autopsy on Monday, said, “It is a case of vasovagal attack. This is a disorder that causes a rapid drop in heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in decreased blood flow to the brain and fainting. Vasovagal attack is the most common cause for fainting. The disorder is also referred to as neurocardiogenic syncope. This happens due to suffocation.”
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
The hospital informed the Sector 29 police station about the woman’s death, police said.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
The hospital informed the Sector 29 police station about the woman’s death, police said.
{{/usCountry}}
While commenting on the arrangements at the venue, ACP (DLF) Ramesh Pal said, “The event was not well-managed. While seeking an NOC for the event, the organisers had said they expected a crowd of about 5,000. But, nearly 10,000 people turned up for the concert. The venue was congested.”
“Arora had no disease or illness. She was last seen dancing. We have asked the team to get CCTV and video recording from the venue to ensure that there was no foul play. The body was handed over to the family on Monday after a post-mortem examination. The family has refused to pursue the case,” the ACP said.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
Police said the viscera and swabs have been sent to Madhuban forensic science laboratory, Karnal.
According to Arora’s friends, she was a fun loving student. She was the youngest in the family, police said quoting friends.
Officials of Clockwork Events Private Limited, the event organisers, refused comment.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
{{^usCountry}}{{/usCountry}}
Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.
