Politics is in the air all the time. And there are no Seasons 1 or 2 like the web series here. It’s like global warming, happening constantly, even while you are asleep. And the worst part is that no matter how much you want it to stop, you can’t do anything great about it alone. Anything and everything can be converted into a political or election topic. Nobody cares who dies or is affected. The first thing the politicians would have on their minds is to use a common man’s tragedy for their benefit and storm the opponents. That is exactly what we saw recently. The tragedy was looked at more as an opportunity than a disaster. Irrespective of the party, the fate of the common people remains the same.
At least 11 persons passed away from heatstroke on Sunday in Navi Mumbai during the Maharashtra Bhushan Award ceremony as a result of standing in the sun for an extended amount of time. Around 125 attendees to the event mentioned symptoms like weariness and chest aches. During the event, 123 persons in total reported experiencing heat-related illnesses such as dehydration. They were promptly sent to one of the 30 medical booths that had been put up on site. Thirteen of the patients who needed more care were transferred to various private hospitals, according to a revenue department employee who was on duty at the location. To treat attendees at the event, 30 doctors were stationed at the medical booths with intensive care unit (ICU) facilities. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Kamothe Hospital, where patients were receiving care, to inspect the situation. Shinde promised the relatives of the deceased Rs 5 lakh in relief. Uddhav Thackeray, former chief minister of Maharashtra, also visited the hospital.
This public event was held to honour a great individual and social worker Dattatreya Narayan Dharmadhikari. It was not a political rally. From 11.30 am to 1.30 pm, the event took place on a big field and attracted lots of spectators. All the attendees were followers of Shri DHarmadhikari as he has been a ray of hope t many lives. However, some were ill from being in the sun and were taken to the hospital for care immediately. As 11 patients passed away, Shinde acknowledged that the deaths were “very unfortunate,” and he added that the state government will pay for the medical expenses. The Chief Minister also instructed officials to transfer patients who need more medical care to hospitals with specialised facilities.
At the site of the occurrence, the nearest weather station noted a high of 38°C. It was not a great idea to have a public programme like that on open ground in the heat. The choice of time made by the organisers for whatever reason was not a mindful decision. The Government has to take a lesson from this incident and avoid such happenings in future. The lost lives cannot be brought back but the ones who can be saved should get every assistance possible and financial support to get back to normal life. “Thousands of people attended the event, which was successful. Seeing some of them suffer is painful. I am in a really painful situation and that is quite regrettable,” CM Shinde remarked. “Unfortunately, some people participating in the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony this morning died due to heatstroke,” tweeted Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister. He paid his sincere respects. And also sympathised with their families.
Public speeches in rain and heat can be convenient, dramatic and beneficial but only for the politicians, not for the public. A few years back Shri Sharad Pawar gave a speech soaked in rain which got accolades because he did not stop his speech even when it rained. People were drenched wet and listening to him. In spite of his age, he continued the speech and became a hero in an hour’s time on social media. There is no report of anyone having pneumonia or viral after standing in the rain for a long but all saw this spectacle on live television. Yesterday the public got dehydrated in sun. It was also claimed that the ceremony was held at that time because Shri Amit Shah did not have time in the evening. We need to reach to a point in public service where only the convenience of the public is the point of decision-making and nothing else. It’s high time the political parties stop the blame game, passing the parcel and pulling each other down; and start focusing on making the state safe, sound and worth peaceful living.
Sadly nothing great has changed for the public. They are just hoping for the best from anyone who can do little good to their lives. For that, they are ready to get pneumonia or sunstroke or probably both, but shouldn’t it be worth it?
