Eleven people died from heatstroke, and many more were hospitalized after attending an awards event in India's Maharashtra state on Sunday (April 17, 2023).

The government-sponsored event lasted several hours and was held in an open field under the scorching sun, reports BBC.

Thousands of people attended the event to honor a notable social activist, it said.

Following the event, several attendees complained of dehydration and other heat-related problems.

Read more: Heat Stroke Prevention: Best foods, drinks to avoid heat exhaustion

On Sunday, the highest temperature in Navi Mumbai, a city near Mumbai's financial hub, reached 38 degrees Celsius. Health experts have recommended that people stay out of the sun from 11 am to 4 pm, especially during April, which is one of the hottest months in India.

Photos from the event showed thousands of people sitting straight in the sun, with no canopy or covering to provide shade.

Officials told the media that refreshments were served at the location throughout the day, and booths were set up to offer people medical treatment, but opposition parties said the event was mismanaged and that it should not have been hosted at this time of year, the report said.

The event was held on the grounds of the Kharghar International Corporate Park to honor social worker Dattatreya Narayan Dharmadhikari, also known as Appasaheb Dharmadhikari.

Read More: Heat Stroke: Symptoms, First Aid, and Prevention

The incident was described as "unexpected and painful" by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who awarded Rs 5 lakh in compensation to the relatives of each of the deceased. He stated that the government will offer free medical treatment to anyone who became ill during the event.