महाराष्ट्र

10 Die Of Heat Stroke At Maharashtra Bhushan Awards In Kharghar

people died and 15 others are critical after they suffered heat-related health issues at Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2022 attended by Union Home Minister and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday, as per sources. More than 120 people suffered from heat-related health issues, like dehydration, due exposure to sunlight.

Over 3 lakh people had gathered at the event and the temperature was recorded at 42° Celsius. Fifteen of these people were admitted to different local hospitals and the condition of one of them is serious.

Lakhs of followers of attended the grand function held on a sprawling 306-acre ground in Kharghar. 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. Many of them had arrived on Saturday.

“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,” PTI quoted a revenue department official.

“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.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced Rs 5 lakh aide granted to the kin of the deceased. The CM also visited MGM Hospital, where people are currently undergoing treatment. The number of casualties is likely to go up as the condition of fifteen people remains critical. He called the incident "unfortunate".

"As per the briefing received from doctors, 7-8 people have died today, while 24 are being treated. This is a case of sunstroke. Some 50 people were admitted to the hospital, of which 24 are still there while the rest have been discharged after primary treatment," Shinde told reporters while coming out from the hospital.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted the government will pay for treatment of those who suffered heat-related illness. "It is very unfortunate and painful that some members participating in the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony this morning died due to heatstroke... We share the grief of their families," Fadnavis tweeted in Marathi.

Suraj Chavan, Working President of Maharastra State Nationalist Youth Congress, said by keeping the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony in the sun, it is believed that some innocent people have died and many people have died due to the negligence of the government. This is a case of culpable homicide by the government.