New Delhi: At least 12 persons – eight women and four men – present among the audience at the ceremony to present the Maharashtra Bhushan awards, which were given by Union home minister Amit Shah in the presence of state chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis at Navi Mumbai, have died due to heatstroke on Sunday, April 16. Another 600 persons are under treatment for heat-related health issues after attending the event, reports The Times of India.Two people are battling for their lives, a senior doctor at a civic-run hospital in Vashi told NDTV.TOI reported that many had complained of dehydration and fainted on the ground causing a stampede-like situation. An official release from Navi Mumbai police, however, claims that there was no stampede.Lakhs of people from far-off Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat were brought to the venue ground in Kharghar in what was evidently a show of political strength by the state government. They were sitting under the sun for more than six hours, reports the newspaper. Two tents collectively accommodating around 1,000 were reserved for VIPs, media, and others with separate entries. The function was held at Kharghar in the satellite township of Navi Mumbai to felicitate eminent social worker Dattatreya Narayan Dharmadhikari, popularly known as Appasaheb Dharmadhikari. At a function held at the Corporate Park at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai, senior BJP leader and Union home minister Amit Shah presented the award in presence of CM Shinde and deputy CM Fadnavis. The ground was packed with people belonging to Shree Sadasya, the movement of the Dharmadhikari-family. The award comprised a shawl, a citation and memento and a cheque of Rs 25 lakh, which Dharmadhikari donated to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, reports Deccan Herald.In his speech, Shah praised the large crowd for braving the severe heat (42 degrees Celsius, according to him) to be present at the ceremony.Home minister praising the crowd for sitting in the open in this scorching heat.Atleast 12 dead, More than 500 people who attended this Maharashtra Bhushan program in heat are admittedImagine the outrage by Godi media if this was by oposition leaders. pic.twitter.com/unf0H0KvOv— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) April 17, 2023CM Shinde announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and free medical treatment of those who are admitted. According to NDTV, 11 of the victims have been identified as Vinayak Haldankar (55), Tulsiram Wangad (58) from Thane, Mahesh Gaikar (42) from Mumbai, Swapnil Kini (30) from Palghar, Jayshree Patil (54), Vandana Patil (62) from Raigad, Manjusha Bombde (51), Savita Pawar (42) from Mumbai, Kalawati Vaychal (46) from Solapur, Bhima Salvi (58) and Pushpa Gaikar (64) from Thane.Another woman is yet to be identified.Heatwave predictionsThe IMD’s heat wave warning on April 16 gave details about the ongoing heat conditions across the country.Heat wave conditions have been prevailing over parts of West Bengal coastal Andhra Pradesh and Bihar for the last two-three days, it said. Heatwave conditions would continue over some parts of Punjab and Haryana, but abate by April 17.Some regions in West Bengal and Bihar will very likely face heatwave conditions for the next five days, it said, while Sikkim would witness similar conditions for the next three days. Heat wave conditions are likely across coastal Andhra Pradesh and western Madhya Pradesh till April 18.In its April 16 heat wave warning, the IMD had said that Maharashtra could witness a rise in maximum temperatures by 2 to 4 Degrees Celsius over the next five days.Schools and colleges will remain shut this week in West Bengal due to the prediction of severe heatwave conditions, reported PTI.