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By Ritvick Arun Bhalekar, Pankaj Upadhyay: No events will be allowed in Maharashtra in open spaces between noon and 5 pm until the heat conditions become mild across the state. The state’s decision came after 14 people, attending the Maharashtra Bhushan event in Navi Mumbai’s Kharghar on Sunday, died of heatstroke.
The state will issue a government resolution with the new rules, confirmed cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha.
On Sunday, several people died and nearly 120 complained of heat-related health issues while attending the Maharashtra Bhushan event conducted to felicitate social activist Dattatreya Narayan alias Appasaheb Dharmadhikari. Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the award, instituted by the Maharashtra government.
Also Read | Packed ground, no shed: 11 dead, over 120 suffer heatstroke at Maharashtra award event
Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Kapil Patil were among the MLAs, MLCs, and ministers present at the event attended by lakhs of people.
The ground was packed and equipped with audio/video facilities for followers of Shree Sadasya (Dharmadhikari’s organisation) to witness the function. The seating arrangement for the attendees was made in the open with no coverings, reported PTI.
People who suffered a heatstroke were rushed to the Tata Hospital in Kharghar for immediate medical aid, news agency ANI reported.
Also Read | Maharashtra sunstroke tragedy: Amit Shah condoles death of attendees at award event
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited a hospital where several people were undergoing treatment after suffering a heatstroke. The chief minister announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation for the families of the victims.
“Medical treatment of people under treatment due to sunstroke will be free. The state will pay from its coffers for their treatment,” he said, directing officials to shift patients to specialised hospitals if they needed additional treatment.
“Lakhs of people had come for the event and it went well. It is painful to see some of them suffer. It is a very unfortunate situation which is very painful for me,” he said.
Also Read | 123 people suffer heat-related health issues at Maharashtra Bhushan Award ceremony
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