Shinde govt faces opposition heat over sunstroke deaths at Maha award event

The Eknath ShindeBJP government in Maharashtra on Monday faced criticism over the sunstrokelinked death of people at a mega award function in Navi Mumbai held in an open ground under a scorching sun with the Opposition demanding a probe into organisation of the programme as the toll rose to 13 while eight patients still remained hospitalisedWhile the Congress sought registration of a case of culpable homicide and said the government should quit the Nationalist Congress Party NCP sought a probe into the tragedyTens of thousands of people had gathered in a 306acre ground in the Kharghar area in Raigad district on Sunday for presentation of the Maharashtra Bhushan award to spiritual leader and social reformer Appasaheb Dharmadhikari The nearest weather station to the spot had recorded a maximum temperature of 38 degrees CelsiusEleven people attending the event died due to sunstroke on Sunday while two patients undergoing treatment succumbed later taking the toll to 13 officials said on MondayThe deceased included nine women and four men while eight people were still undergoing treatment after suffering from sunstroke at the award function they saidUnion Home Minister Amit Shah Chief Minister Eknath Shinde his deputy Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Kapil Patil were among those present on the occasionShinde termed the deaths as very unfortunate and said the kin of the deceased will be given a compensation of Rs 5 lakhAlso readMumbaikars slam govt for insensitivity lack of arrangements leading to deaths at Kharghar eventLeader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar sought an inquiry into how the award event was organised during noon time when the temperature was very highPawar visited the MGM Hospital at Kamothe in Navi Mumbai late Sunday night and enquired about the health of people undergoing treatment after suffering from sunstrokeTalking to reporters he termed the incident as most unfortunate and said the priority was to ensure the patients get well soonThe NCP leader claimed it was a function of the Maharashtra governmentIt is a well known fact that during AprilMay day temperature are very high During these days temperatures hover around 40 degrees Celsius Pawar saidHence it needs to be probed as to who had fixed the noon timing for the award function the former deputy CM saidPawar said the function could have been held in the evening and Union Home Minister Shah could have taken a chopper to reach the venueShah had conferred the states highest civilian award on Dharmadhikari at the eventMaharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said a case of culpable homicide must be registered against the Shinde government for the sunstroke deathsAppasaheb is working for humanity and when someone of his stature is being given an award it is obvious lakhs of his followers would attend the function The government knew this but airconditioned mandap was made only for Union Home Minister Amit Shah chief minister deputy CM and other dignitaries Patole said in PuneThis is a state programme Why was there no covering for the lakhs who attended This is inhuman and that is why people are seeking that a case of culpable homicide be registered against the Maharashtra government he addedThe Maharashtra Congress chief said the state government must take responsibility for the deaths and should resignNCP Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule demanded the formation of a panel to probe the incidentI express condolences to the bereaved families Since the temperature is increasing everybody should be a little sensitive while organising a public event I heard CM Eknath Shinde announcing an exgratia but I would like to say that the worth of human life cannot be Rs 5 lakh Sule told reportersAsked about the Opposition demand for registration of an offence of culpable homicide for the deaths she alleged the state government is also insensitive towards farmers womens safety and damage caused by unseasonal rainsThis is a tragic incident and it was a black day for the state The state government should form a probe committee It was the state government that had invited people who follow Appasaheb Dharamadhikari the recipient of the Maharashtra Bhushan award for the function so the state should explain Sule demandedShiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut blamed the Maharashtra government for the tragedy and claimed politics prevailed over the convenience of peopleSpeaking to reporters in Mumbai Raut said iquestThe Maharashtra Bhushan award function could have been held in the evening but Union minister Amit Shah had no free time Thus the programme was held during the day time and people got exposed to the scorching heat and sunlightPolitics behind the award prevailed over peoples convenience the Rajya Sabha member saidThe programme got stretched too long and people fell sick A few of them even died because of it The people who attended the event had come for Appasaheb Dharmadhikari and not for any other politician present on the stage Raut saidThe Shiv Sena UBT spokesperson said there have been similar incidents in the past and the state should have learnt some lessons from them before organising such eventsMany of followers of Shree Parivar Dharmadhikaris organisation had reached the venue on Friday and stayed there till the function concluded at around 130 pm on SundayUnion Home Minister Shah on Monday expressed grief over the tragedyThe death of people who attended yesterdays Maharashtra Bhushan award function has deeply saddened me I express my condolences to the families of the deceased I pray for the recovery of those who are currently being treated Shah tweetedAt the sprawling venue some people complained of dizziness and other health complications Some also fainted at the ground They were initially treated at make shift medical facilities and later rushed to hospitalsDharmadhikari has a massive following in the state due to his tree plantation drives blood donation and medical camps as well as deaddiction work in tribal areasThe Maharashtra Bhushan is the states top civilian award given to people for their contribution towards the welfare of societyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever