Sunstroke deaths: Maharashtra govt sets one-member probe committee

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday appointed a one-member committee to probe the deaths of 14 persons in the Maharashtra Bhushan award event held in Kharghar in Navi Mumbai on April 16

Sunstroke deaths: Maharashtra govt sets one-member probe committee

File Photo

The deaths were caused by sunstroke and other health complications as several lakh people converged on the sprawling International Corporate Park to watch social activist and reformer Appasaheb Dharmadhikari being given the prestigious award.

Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Nitin Keer is the sole member of the committee, which will look into the facts of the incident and recommend steps to be taken while organising such functions, a statement from the chief minister's office (CMO) said.

Also Read: Ajit Pawar demands judicial probe in Kharghar sunstroke deaths

The committee will submit its report to the state government in a month's time, the CMO statement added.

The formation of the committee comes amid severe criticism of the state government for organising an event on such a grand scale amid the scorching summer and without adequate arrangements.

Some opposition parties, including the Congress and NCP, have sought a case of culpable homicide against the state government for the deaths, while Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has claimed the toll is in the range of 50-75 and not 14 as stated by the government.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels