After attending an outdoor award ceremony in western India that was attended by thousands of people, 11 individuals died from heatstroke and hundreds remain in hospitals.
The government-run event, which was held in western Maharashtra state on Sunday, April 16, ran from early in the morning until late in the day, when the area’s temperature climbed to a blistering 38C.
Thousands of people gathered at a sizable open space for the Maharashtra Bhushan Award ceremony in Navi Mumbai, a city next to Mumbai, the financial center of India, to honor a well-known local social crusader.
It was attended by top political leaders, including Maharashtra’s chief minister Eknath Shinde, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, and India’s home minister Amit Shah.
While there were two tents to shelter VIPs, regular people who attended the event were left vulnerable and exposed to the heat.
The two tents at the large ground catered only to politicians, government officials and the media, reported news portal The Wire.
The lack of adequate measures to protect against the heat proved to be fatal.
The chief minister had earlier said that “7-8 people have died today, while 24 are being treated. This is a case of sunstroke”.
“As per the briefing received from doctors, 7-8 people have died today, while 24 are being treated,” Mr Shinde had told reporters on Sunday, April 16, while coming out from a hospital where several of the attendees were admitted. “This is a case of sunstroke.”
As of Monday, April 17, the number of deaths stood at 11 with “hundreds” of people hospitalised for urgent medical care.
Doctors also fear the death toll can rise as some of those hospitalised are said to be in a critical condition with cardiac issues, according to The Times of India.
The deputy chief minister stated that the government will pay for the treatment of individuals who are afflicted by heat-related disorders. The government has offered a compensation of Rs 500,000 (£5,000) to the families of those who perished.
Opposition party members have criticized the state government run by the governing Bharatiya Janata Party for scheduling the event at the incorrect time and labeled it “negligent and careless behavior.”