Amal Barman, a 26‑year‑old CRPF recruit from Assam, died of dengue on Wednesday, 6 Oct, at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital after a rapid rise in platelet count forced his admission. The death marks the first among visiting security forces amid a dengue spike that has already infected 43 officers across Gujarat. A senior medical officer at the hospital told NDTV that Barman had been discharged after his initial test on 3 Oct, only to return with severe thrombocytopenia three days later.
Barman’s case follows a broader surge in vector‑borne cases in the state’s capital, where cases climbed from 20 in September to 43 by early October. The CRPF has reported that 38 of the infected personnel are stationed at the National Unity Day parade headquarters, raising concerns over the safety of the upcoming event. Health officials say the city’s mosquito control program is under review, but no detailed plan has yet been released.
CRPF officials stated they will cooperate with state health authorities to ensure rigorous medical screening for all deployed personnel. Gujarat health authorities confirmed that a joint task force will be convened to investigate the outbreak’s spread among security staff.
The incident has prompted the state government to announce a review of health protocols for all security deployments ahead of the National Unity Day parade scheduled for 28 October. Officials expect to hold a meeting with CRPF and municipal health officials on Thursday to outline preventive measures and ensure no further fatalities.