Behind dehydration at Navi Mumbai event: Fierce sun, heated drinking water

Estimated in lakhs, followers of social activist Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, who was conferred the prestigious Maharashtra Bhushan Award, had gathered from across the state at the 306-acre International Corporate Park ground in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai – some of them since Friday.

The huge crowd that gathered for the event in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. (Express photo by Deepak Joshi)

The function on Sunday, which was attended among others by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, started around 10.30 am and concluded after 1 pm.

Considering the heat aspect, the administration said it had installed 2,100 water taps at the venue and also pressed into service 74 tankers. Besides this, more than 200 water tankers were stationed at various places such as parking and connecting roads. But it was of little help.

“Water in these taps and tankers became hot as there was no shed over the taps, pipes and tankers. The tankers, too, were not parked under the trees. As the water was hot, many could not hydrate themselves and due to dehydration felt dizzy,” said a senior police officer, who did not want to be named.

The gathering at the Maharashtra Bhushan Award function in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. (Express photo)

Instead, distributing packaged drinking water would have been a better option, said an eyewitness.

Padmashri Beinade, Resident Deputy Commissioner, Raigad, when asked if the administration did not take the rising heat into account, said, “The temperature was 38 degree Celsius, which is common in the region. It was not a heatwave. And there was no alert of the heatwave.”

“We had made adequate arrangements keeping the law and order, safety and security of the followers and dignitaries in mind,” she said.

“As a plan to deal with a situation wherein people get affected due to high temperature, the administration had made medical assistance arrangements. More than 300 doctors were there to help, with a facility of over 4,000 beds. But, due to lack of knowledge, the people did not report their condition to the medical teams available at the venue and collapsed,” she said.

She did not respond when asked about the alleged lack of volunteers at the venue to take the affected people to the medical desks and also why arrangements were not made to prevent the water from turning hot.

The gathering at the Maharashtra Bhushan Award function in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. (Express photo)

It was also alleged that after the event concluded, volunteers from the police and the local administration were seen in far less numbers at the venue. Senior administration officials refused to comment on this.

A patient admitted at Vashi’s NMMC hospital alleged no water was provided after noon. “I had my breakfast and medicines, and then we reached the event. The arrangements were great but after 12 pm, no water was available, maybe because the crowd had increased,” said the elderly patient admitted at Vashi’s NMMC hospital.

She said she was a patient of low blood pressure and diabetes, and the heat and lack of water took a toll. She started feeling dizzy while leaving the event and later fainted. “I didn’t realise what happened. I don’t even know how and when I was brought to hospital,” the Solapur resident said.

Dyaneshwar Patil, who is in his 30s, had come to Kharghar from Mumbai along with his wife and three-year-old daughter for the event. All three were hospitalised. But Patil refused to blame anyone.

“There were adequate arrangements for water but due to excessive heat people suffered sunstroke. No one has control over sun. So no one is to be blamed. My daughter panicked after she saw me falling. Me, my daughter and wife are all fine and stable now,” he said.

Those affected at the venue were immediately given water, Oral Rehydration Salt, food and wet towels. They were allowed to go only after they felt normal, said Raigad Collector Dr. Yogesh Mhase.

Around two dozen committees were looking after the arrangements, including the Disaster Management Committee.