West Bengal: 4 dead, 15 persons fall ill due to extreme heat at religious festival, CM assures all help

"Four persons have died due to heat wave at the fair. There was no stampede. A large number of people gathered at the fair today as it was being held after a gap of two years. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sent me here to take stock of the situation," senior Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy told the media.

Panihati (West Bengal): Four persons died on Sunday due to extreme heat at a massive religious gathering in the Panihati area of West Bengal's North 24 Paraganas district. The incident took place at ISKCON temple at Panihati in the North 24 Paraganas district. According to sources in the district police, all the three deceased were aged above 60. They further revealed that 15 more have fallen ill due to heat and overcrowding at the venue.

"Four persons have died to heat wave at the fair. There was no stampede. A large number of people gathered at the fair today as it was being held after a gap of two years. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sent me here to take stock of the situation," senior Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy told the media.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister stated in a tweet "Distressed to know of 3 old devotees' death due to heat and humidity in Danda Mahotsav at ISKCON temple at Panihati. CP and DM have rushed, and all help is being provided. My condolences to the bereaved families, solidarity to devotees."

Dhrubajyoti Dey, Joint Commissioner of Police, Barrackpore Commissionerate said earlier in the day that the three people were rushed to hospital after they fell ill but were declared brought dead by doctors. He also said that the three fell ill due to heat amid overcrowding at the religious event known as 'Doi-Chirey Mela'.

Local MLA Nirmal Ghosh said that visitors fell ill due to extreme heat and humidity. Among others who have fallen ill, some have been taken to Sagar Dutta State General Hospital and Balaram State General Hospital.

Speaking to the media, the son-in-law of two of deceased-identified as Subhash Pal said and his wife Shukla-Debashish Banik said that the elderly couple came to the temple to offer prayers but fell unconscious due to the heat and later died.

Eyewitnesses alleged that the organizers of the event failed to control the crowd which resulted in the incident. However, the organizers denied the allegation. Locals said that the over 500-year-old annual fair was not organized for the last two years due to the Covid-19 outbreak adding that since the number of Covid cases came down this year it was held again. (With agency inputs)