By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, Apr 17:
Eleven people died and several others suffered heat stroke, in a ceremony organised to confer the “Maharashtra Bhushan award 2022” on noted social worker Dattatrey Narayan alias Appasaheb Dharmadhikari on a sprawling 306-acre ground at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
While 24 people have been admitted to MGM Hospital, D Y Patil, Medicover Hospitals, Tata ACTREC and other hospitals, the condition of 4 to 5 patients was described as serious.
Maharashtra chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who visited MGM Hospital late Sunday night, told media that the incident was most unfortunate and “I offer my condolences”. An ex gratia compensation of Rs 05 lakh will be given to next of the kin and the Government will bear all expenses towards medical treatment of those admitted to the hospital.
Those suffered heat stroke were initially given first aid by doctors present at the venue, while others who suffered dehydration were shifted to the hospitals. Unfortunately 11 of them succumbed. A DMC level officer of the Panvel Municipal Corporation will be appointed to coordinate between those admitted to the hospital and their relatives, Shinde added.
The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post mortem examination. A vehicle has been provided with each body so that after post mortem, the bodies can be sent to their respective home town since the disciples (Srisevaks) of Dharmadhikari had come from far off places like Palghar, Thane, Raigad and Lonavala (near Pune), official sources in Raigad district collectorate said.
An estimated 03 lakh people attended the rally in which Dharmadhikari was given the award at the hands of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in presence of Shinde, DCM Devendra Fadnavis, Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and others.
While shades were put up in VIP areas, there was no cover on the ground where thousands had gathered. Although the program was scheduled to start at 10.30 am, the people had gathered much earlier. Some of them had reached the venue on Saturday night. It was past 1.30 pm by the time function ended. The temperature of 42 degrees Celsius was recorded and the people waited for well over 6 hours in the scorching heat. Most of the people suffered heat stroke and dehydration fell unconscious. One of the Srisevaks suffered a heart attack, attending doctors said. Due to heavy congregation and traffic blockade, those who suffered could not be promptly shifted to the hospital. The Government had not released the list of the deceased and injured till late Sunday night.
Opposition Leader in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena(UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray who visited the hospitals told media that prestigious function of the Government suffered a blot due to improper planning. The organisers should have considered whether it was proper to organise the function during daytime in such a scorching heat. The Government spent nearly Rs 14 crore including transport, food and overnight stay. If the program was organised in the evening, this tragedy could have been averted. If Shah had other prior engagements, the function could have been organised at later date. Besides, the Government was not disclosing the information about the deceased and those admitted to the hospitals.
