24 dead in 24 hours at Nanded Hospital, probe ordered

Maharashtra: In a heartbreaking incident, at least 24 people, including 12 infants, have died in the past 24 hours at a government hospital in Maharastra’s Nanded on Monday.

According to hospital officials, among the deceased, there are 12 infants aged between 2 and 4 days old, while the rest are adults, some of whom reportedly suffered from ‘poisoning’ incidents.

The dean of the hospital, S. Wakode, said that six male and six female babies passed away due to various causes, while another 12 adults, sadly, succumbed to issues, with most of them falling victim to snake bites, at the Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College & Hospital.

One of the challenges faced by the hospital is that many patients come from distant places, and the hospital encounters difficulties in procuring the necessary medicines for them promptly, largely due to budget constraints and other issues.

Ex-CM and senior Congress leader from Nanded, Ashok Chavan, said that besides these deaths, another 70 patients, referred from other private hospitals in the district, are reported to be’serious’.

“I spoke with the hospital dean, who said there was a shortage of nursing and medical staff, certain equipment was not working, and certain departments were not operational for various reasons. This is a very grave issue,” said Chavan.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Deputy Leader Sushma Andhare alleged negligence and referred to the similar deaths of 18 patients in Thane’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Government Hospital in mid-August.

“It’s clear that Health Minister Sawant is ineffective, and the CM should either take his resignation or sack him,” said Andhare.

Slamming the government, Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule strongly condemned the mass deaths, saying: “This triple-engine government is responsible for all the 24 innocent persons’ deaths.”

NCP spokesperson Vikas Lawande said that the deaths occurred due to negligence and a lack of medical supplies by the government, and “woe betide the government that advertises festivals and events”.

NCP spokesperson Vikas Lawande attributed the tragic deaths to government negligence and a shortage of medical supplies. He criticised the government, saying, “Woe betide the government that advertises festivals and events while failing in its duty to provide adequate healthcare.”