After at least 11 individuals died from sunstroke, the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, Ajit Pawar, has called for an investigation into how the “Maharashtra Bhushan” award ceremony was planned in Navi Mumbai at midday when the temperature was very high.
The celebration was hosted on a 306-acre site in the Kharghar district on Sunday, and thousands of people attended. The highest temperature was 38 degrees Celsius, according to the nearby weather station.
Pawar went to the MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai’s Kamothe neighbourhood late on Sunday night to inquire about the wellbeing of those receiving treatment for sunstroke.
Speaking to reporters, he described the occurrence as “most unfortunate” and said that the patients’ quick recovery was the top concern.
The head of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said that it was a duty of the Maharashtra administration.
It is common knowledge that the months of April and May see unusually high temperatures. He said that the temperature is now at 40 degrees Celsius.
Therefore, the NCP leader added, “it needs to be investigated as to who had fixed the noon timing for the award function.”
According to Pawar, the event might have taken place in the evening, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah could have flown there on a helicopter.
At the occasion on Sunday, Shah presented Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, a spiritual leader and social reformer, with the Maharashtra Bhushan Award.
Given that the patients were receiving care at several facilities in and around Kharghar in Navi Mumbai, the authorities were unable to provide a precise figure for the number of people who had become sick.
In a statement on Sunday night, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said, “At least 11 fatalities reportedly caused by sunstroke have been verified.
According to a police spokesman, although some individuals were brought to hospitals and kept under monitoring, others were released after making a full recovery.
At least 50 patients were admitted to a hospital in Navi Mumbai, according to Shinde, of whom 24 remain hospitalised and the remaining 48 have been released after receiving basic care. He called the deaths “very unfortunate”.
The deceased’s family would get compensation in the amount of Rs. 5 lakh, according to Shinde.
Eight of the dead were women. According to authorities, ten of the remains were given to the family.
Many of Shree Parivar’s (Dharmadhikari’s group) supporters arrived at the location on Friday and remained there till the event was over at approximately 1.30 pm on Sunday.
Some individuals on Sunday reported experiencing vertigo and other issues. Some people at the event ground also passed out. They received first care in improvised hospitals before being transported there immediately after.
Due to his efforts throughout the state to plant trees, collect blood, hold medical clinics, and treat addiction in tribal regions, Dharmadhikari has a huge following.
