Maharashtra: Heatwave Kills 11 At Kharghar Award Event, CM Shinde Announces Rs 5 Lakh Relief
At least eleven people have died, while 50 were taken to the hospital after over 120 people suffered from heat-related health issues due to sun exposure on Sunday during the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony in Navi Mumbai’s Kharghar.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the MGM hospital where the patients are being treated. The chief minister has announced compensation of Rs five lakh to the kin of those deceased, sources told News18.
Twenty-four people are currently being treated at the hospital.
Social activist Dattatreya Narayan alias Appasaheb Dharmadhikari was given the Maharashtra Bhushan award and lakhs of his followers attended the grand event.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the award, instituted by the Maharashtra government, to Dharmadhikari.
The event, for which people had started gathering since morning, began around 11.30 am and went on till around 1 pm.
The seating arrangement for the attendees was also made open without any shed.
“A total of 123 people complained of heat-related health ailments, like dehydration during the event. They were immediately referred to the 30 medical booths set up at the venue. Thirteen of the patients, who needed further treatment, were shifted to different private hospitals and the condition of one of them is serious,” a revenue department official, who was on duty at the venue, said.
“A total of 30 doctors were deployed at the medical booths that had intensive care unit (ICU) facilities to treat people at the venue,” she said, news agency PTI reported.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the deaths as “ unfortunate and painful,” and expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
In a Tweet, Fadnavis said, “It is very unfortunate and painful that some members participating in the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony this morning died due to heatstroke. offer my heartfelt tributes to these seekers. We share in the grief of their families. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced to provide Rs 5 lakh assistance to the families of the deceased through the state government.”
