A music event in Mumbai turns tragic when a man dies, a woman is hospitalized; police say no evidence of drug use was found

A 28-year-old man died and a woman was admitted to hospital after they allegedly consumed excessive amounts of alcohol during a music event in Mumbai in the early hours of Sunday, police said.

The incidents took place at the ‘Klangkuenstler All Night Long’ music show held at the NSCI Dome in Mumbai’s Worli area, police official Tardeo said.

The official said a man and a woman were attending an event and dancing when they allegedly consumed a large amount of alcohol, including cocktails, which led to a medical emergency, according to PTI.

According to the official, the participant’s condition worsened during the event, after which he was immediately rushed to Breach Candy Hospital in Malabar Hill. However, medical personnel pronounced him dead on arrival.

In a separate incident at the same event, a 31-year-old woman fell ill and was taken to Jaslok Hospital for treatment, where her condition is said to be stable, according to the official.

During questioning, the woman told police that she had consumed alcohol along with energy drinks before the health complications, the official added.

“No evidence of drug use has come to the fore in our investigation so far. CCTV footage from the scene and surroundings and other electronic evidence are being checked to get more clarity on the chain of events,” the official said, according to PTI.

Investigating a musical event in Mumbai

An NDTV report, citing sources, indicated that police from the local jurisdiction had initially denied permission for the event in Worli, citing an earlier incident in Goregaon and public safety and crowd management concerns. Despite these objections, higher authorities later approved the program, the report said.

The event featured four distilleries, all operating with permits from the state Department of Excise. The concert took place between 18:00 and 22:00 and ended as planned with the alleged ticket prices ₹4,000. Following the incident, officials began a detailed review of the permits granted for the event, including licenses related to the sale of liquor and other regulatory clearances.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and started a detailed investigation into the incident. At least eight people, including the organizers of the event, are being questioned as part of the investigation.

Investigators are also examining the organizers’ financial records to determine whether tickets were illegally sold at inflated prices through black market channels, the report said.

Another key issue in the investigation is whether the event was used as a front for unauthorized rave parties. Authorities are investigating allegations that attendees were instructed to cover their cell phone cameras, possibly to prevent recording of activities inside the venue.

Police are reportedly investigating the role played by private security service personnel and bouncers during the event. A forensics team was also tasked with inspecting the ventilation system at the site and verifying that the crowd size was within permitted limits.

The case is the second of its kind in recent months. In April, two MBA students reportedly lost their lives after allegedly consuming drugs at a concert organized at the NESCO campus in Goregaon.