Deepak dies after fatal 'live Samadhi' circus stunt in Haryana

A 27‑year‑old performer named Deepak, part of a traditional village circus troupe, died of suffocation during a "live Samadhi" stunt in Nuh district, Haryana. The act involved placing him in a sack, lowering him into a dug pit and covering it with soil; he entered the pit on July 23 and was found unresponsive when his colleagues tried to pull him out. He was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Police investigations suggest the cause was lack of oxygen under the soil, and a post‑mortem report is awaited. Nuh District Commissioner Akhil Pilani said the stunt is illegal and officials will examine how it was organised without permission, while Inspector Rajesh Kumar of Tauru Sadar Police Station confirmed the preliminary findings.