Open ground, blazing sun, several hours
Twelve people have died from heatstroke while many others have been admitted to hospital after attending an awards ceremony in India’s Maharashtra state.
The government-sponsored event took place in an open ground under a blazing sun and lasted for several hours.
In one of India’s hottest months.
Just don’t do that. It’s not difficult. Heat kills. Don’t put on events in the open when it’s hot.
Thousands of people attended Sunday’s event, which was held to felicitate a prominent social activist.
Many people complained of dehydration and other heat-related ailments after attending the function.
Navi Mumbai – a city close to financial hub Mumbai – where the event was held, recorded a maximum temperature of 38C (100F) on Sunday. Health experts have advised people to stay out of the sun during the peak heat hours of 11am to 4pm, especially during April, which is considered to be one of the hottest months in India.
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Opposition leaders have accused the government of jeopardising people’s lives. Former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said the event had “not been planned properly” and called for an investigation.
Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil accused the state government of negligence and said people had died because the event was held in April.
India recorded its hottest February since 1901 this year, and the country’s weather department has also forecasted an “enhanced probability” of heatwaves between March and May.
Don’t throw open-air events during the hottest months. Wake up and smell the climate change
Why are people suddenly putting “considered to be” in statements of fact? I see that with my students all the time, but a few years ago, I didn’t (except creationists, who would say the earth is ‘considered to be’ 4.5 billion years old, implying it really wasn’t, especially when adding “by scientists”). Are we in some sort of contest to see who can cram in the most words to say something? And if so, why wasn’t I informed? I could compete. What’s the prize?
It’s absurd, isn’t it. I think journalists are trained to do that to a considerable extent, so as to separate what they’re reporting from background knowledge, but the results can be very silly.
I started my college career in journalism; I changed majors after the first year because I couldn’t stand to write the way they were teaching me. Also I couldn’t deal with them saying “you are not to care who gets hurt”. I’m sure that’s true, but I couldn’t do it.