Twelve die of heatstroke at awards ceremony in Maharashtra, India

 

Twelve people died Sunday from heatstroke while several others have been hospitalized after attending a government-sponsored award event in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Thousands of people attended the ceremony, which took place in open ground under a blazing sun and lasted for at least three hours. The event was organised at the Kharghar International Corporate Park grounds to felicitate prominent social activist Appasaheb Dharmadhikari.

It was attended by a number of top politicians, including India's Home Minister Amit Shah and leaders from Maharashtra's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Navi Mumbai, where the event took place, recorded a maximum temperature of 38 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Several photos from the ceremony show scores of people sitting directly under the sun. Many complained of dehydration, exhaustion, and high blood pressure after attending the event.

Although officials told the media that booths had been set up to provide medical aid and that refreshments had been offered through the day, opposition parties said the event should not have been held at this time of the year, accusing the government of putting people's lives at risk.

While former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray called for an investigation, Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil accused the state government of negligence.

Calling the incident "unexpected and painful", Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced $6,102 as compensation to the bereaved families. The government would provide free medical treatment to those who fell ill during the ceremony, he added.

April is considered one of the hottest months in India. Health experts have advised people to stay out of the sun from 11 am to 4 pm - the peak heat hours.

Nonetheless, did you know that the country recorded its hottest February in over a century this year?