Navi Mumbai, April 17 (). Eleven people died of heatstroke on Sunday, with over four dozen hospitalized, following a program organized by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to honor social reformer Appasaheb Dharmadhikari with the Maharashtra Bhushan-2022 award.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and others reached the MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai late on Sunday evening to inquire about the well being of the people.
In the early hours of Monday, Leader of Opposition of NCP Ajit Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) President and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Congress leaders visited the hospital and interacted with the patients.
Pawar said, after discussing with the victims, it appears that the stampede took place after the event.
The ceremony, Thackeray said, was originally scheduled for 5 p.m. But later it was fixed at 10.30 am on Sunday and innocent lives were lost.
State Congress President Nana Patole said that this is the most insensitive government. He demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister for this tragedy.
Party’s chief spokesperson Atul Londhe said it was a government function and hence it was our duty to ensure the safety of all the participants.
Londhe demanded that the government should be booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and action should be taken against those responsible.
State President of Aam Aadmi Party Preeti Sharma-Menon expressed grief over the huge loss of life.
People questioned why the heat factor was not kept in mind before organizing the Rs 13 crore mega-event. Speakers gave long speeches and people sat under the scorching sun.
Londhe termed it negligent to organize such a big event in the open field in the summer season.
Amit Shah during his speech had appreciated people for sitting patiently in 42 degree Celsius temperature to show respect to Appasaheb Dharmadhikari.
The organizers had claimed that around 20 lakh people attended the mega-event. Chief Minister Shinde, a disciple of Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, proudly announced how the gathering had broken the previous record.
People were coming to Mumbai in buses, trucks or boats from Konkan and other parts of the state since April 14 to attend the much publicized event.
Many people could be seen resorting to scarves, caps, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, dupattas etc. to avoid the scorching heat in the ceremony which lasted for about three hours on Sunday afternoon.
The Chief Minister appealed to the leaders not to politicize the tragedy.
He also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
Soon after being awarded the Maharashtra Bhushan Award, Appasaheb Dharmadhikari donated the prize money of Rs 25 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
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