Maharashtra hospital deaths: Total toll rises to 31, many in critical condition

Nanded: A day after it came to light that 24 patients died in 24 hours at the government-run Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital here, the authorities on Tuesday confirmed that seven more deaths occurred at the same facility between October 1 and 2.

The District Information Office (DIO) of Nanded, located around 280 km east of Aurangabad, confirmed this on a social media platform, taking the total count of deceased patients in the hospital in 48 hours to 31.

Of the seven deaths recorded, four were newborns, local media reported.

Earlier, 24 deaths were reported at the in Nanded in 24 hours between September 30 and October 1. Twelve of the 24 deceased were infants, a top Maharashtra health department official said on Monday.

Taking to microblogging site X on Tuesday morning, senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan said, "Deaths continue unabated at the hospital in Nanded. Seven more patients, including four children, died since October 2 at the Government Medical College and Hospital. The state government should fix the responsibility," the former Maharashtra chief minister demanded.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif will visit the GMCH in Nanded on Tuesday. He will also address a press conference following his visit to the hospital, a district official said.

In its official statement released on Monday, the Nanded district collectorate said that between September 30 and October 1, a total of 24 deaths were reported at the hospital. "Among the 12 adults who lost their lives, five were male and seven female. Four adults had heart-related ailments, one was suffering from an unknown poisoning, one had a liver issue, two were kidney patients, and one case was of complications during pregnancy. There were three accident cases," it said.

Among the deceased infants, four were brought to the hospital at the last stage, the collectorate statement said.

Incidentally, in 24 hours between August 12 and 13, a total of 18 patients died in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital at Kalwa in Thane district, leading the opposition to question the Eknath Shinde government.

(With PTI inputs)