Eleven individuals died due to heatstroke following a government-funded awards ceremony in Indian state of Maharashtra where an estimated one million attendees waited in the sun for several hours.
According to local media reports, temperatures soared to nearly 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) with significant humidity near Mumbai on Sunday, causing around 300 individuals to feel unwell, with 20 of them requiring hospitalisation.
Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior government officials were present at the ceremony and applauded the crowd for enduring the scorching sun.
The office of Maharashtra state's Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed deep sorrow and concern over the “disturbing incident” and assured compensation to the families of the victims.
The Congress party, the main opposition in India, accused the government of neglecting its duty and demanded that it face criminal charges.
Heatwaves have claimed the lives of over 6,500 individuals in India since 2010, and many cities across the country experienced record-breaking temperatures last year.
Scientists have linked the increasing intensity and frequency of these heatwaves to climate change, and they believe that the situation is becoming more severe in South Asia.
Local media reported that officials in the eastern state of West Bengal declared a one-week closure of all schools, colleges, and universities starting from Monday due to the intense heat.
India faced coal shortages last year, which is the country's primary source of electricity for its 1.4 billion population, as electricity usage surged during the heatwave. Also, during the summer season, several regions in India depend on trains to deliver water.
Scientists believe that the annual monsoon season is also becoming more unpredictable and stronger, resulting in more severe flooding.
(With inputs from AFP)
6.9K views · 135 reactions | I’m genuinely shocked and saddened by reports that Will Jackson, Conservative candidate for North Harrow in the elections next month, has told British-born Asian MPs like Rishi Sunak and Shabana Mahmood that they are “not British” and should “go back to Pakistan,” He also suggested figures like Anthony Joshua and Dua Lipa aren’t British.I have raised this important matter in Parliament today, because there is no place for racism in our politics.I’m proud of Harrow’s diverse, close-knit communities. Every candidate should seek to unite people, not divide them.This matter must be taken seriously. I welcome the Conservative Party’s statement that Mr Jackson’s comments are wholly unacceptable and their decision to suspend him.But serious questions remain about how he was selected as a candidate in the first place, and why he was considered fit to represent our community.https://bylinetimes.com/2026/04/13/conservative-candidate-tells-british-mps-to-go-back-to-pakistan/🎥 👇 | Gareth Thomas MP 
