The number of heat stroke victims has gone to 13, as two devotees died during treatment in a hospital. Eleven followers of spiritual leader Appasaheb Dharmadhikari died on Sunday during a function in New Mumbai, to felicitate him with Maharashtra Bhushan Award. The devotees were at the venue right from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm in the scorching heat.
Dharmadhikari was felicitated at the hands of Union Minister Amit Shah.
The Opposition leaders came heavily on the organisers and the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena government regarding the timing of the programme. Dharmadhikari himself said that the death of the people is unfortunate, but should not be politicised.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the expenses for treatment of those hospitalised would be borne by the government.
Nationalist Congres Party leader Ajit Pawar, Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Group leader and MP Sanjay Raut and others critisied the organisers and the state government for organising the programme in the scorching heat to suit the Union Minister Shah.
The possibility of a further rise in the number of deceased has been expressed. The event was attended by about seven lakh people.
Uddhav Thackeray said that the event was held in the noon as Shah was to travel to Gopa after the programme. The death of the devotees is a blot on the good programme.
The programme was over around 1 pm. It took about three hours for the devotees to come out of the venue, as their number was much more than expected by the organisers. The schools, colleges and government offices were closed. In view of the heavy crowd traffic in the region was blocked. The incident occurred even when arrangements for 250 water tankers with 2,000 taps; 69 ambulances, 350 doctors and 100 nurses were made at the venue.