Maharashtra: 8 die, 123 hospitalised due to sunstroke at Navi Mumbai event
2 min read . Updated: 16 Apr 2023, 11:06 PM IST
Premium- As per the briefing received from doctors, 7-8 people have died today, while some 24 are being treated. This is a case of sunstroke, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said
At least 7-8 people died at hospitals hours after they were exposed to sunlight at 'Maharashtra Bhushan' award event held in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said.
More than 120 people suffered from heat-related health issues, like dehydration, due exposure to sunlight on Sunday during a mega event in Navi Mumbai, where social activist Dattatreya Narayan alias Appasaheb Dharmadhikari was given the Maharashtra Bhushan award, a government official said.
Thirteen of these people were admitted to different local hospitals and the condition of one of them is serious, the official said.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday night, Shinde termed the deaths as "very unfortunate".
"As per the briefing received from doctors, 7-8 people have died today, while some 24 are being treated. This is a case of sunstroke.
"Some 50 people were admitted to a Navi Mumbai-based hospital of which 24 are still admitted while the rest have been discharged after primary treatment," he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the award, instituted by the Maharashtra government, to Dharmadhikari. The event, for which people had started gathering since morning, began around 11.30 am and went on till around 1 pm.
The nearest weather station to the spot of the event recorded the maximum temperature of 38 degrees Celsius.
Shinde said the kin of the deceased will be given a compensation of ₹5 lakh.
"Medical treatment of the people under treatment due to sunstroke will be free. The state will pay from its coffers for their treatment," he said.
Lakhs of people had come for the event.
"A total of 123 people complained of heat-related health ailments, like dehydration during the event. They were immediately referred to the 30 medical booths set up at the venue. Thirteen of the patients, who needed further treatment, were shifted to different private hospitals and the condition of one of them is serious," a revenue department official, who was on duty at the venue, said.
"A total of 30 doctors were deployed at the medical booths that had intensive care unit (ICU) facilities to treat people at the venue," she said. A doctor at a civic hospital in Navi Mumbai's Vashi said that five patients were admitted there for treatment after they complained of heat-related health issues.
During the event, Shah said he has never seen such a big presence of lakhs of people to honour a person for his social service. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis were also present on the occasion.