As Nanded hospital death toll rises to 31, another Maharashtra hospital reports 24 deaths

Seven more patient deaths in Nanded government hospital in Maharashtra, bringing total fatalities to 31. Opposition slams ruling govt. and BJP at Centre. Maharashtra Medical Education Minister to visit hospital. Three-member expert committee to probe incident

A troubling situation persists at a government-run hospital in Maharashtra’s Nanded, as authorities on Tuesday confirmed seven more patient deaths between October 1 and 2, a day after it came to light that 24 patients, including 12 newborns, died within a 24-hour period allegedly due to lack of medical help and medicines. The total number of the deceased patients in the hospital in 48 hours is 31.

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The District Information Office (DIO) of Nanded confirmed these additional fatalities, urging the public not to panic stating that a team of doctors is present and ready to respond.

“The facts related to the death of patients at Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital is as follows: 24 deaths between September 30 and October 1; seven deaths between October 1 and 2. Please do not panic. A team of doctors is ready,” the DIO said.

Of the initial 24 deaths reported between September 30 and October 1, 12 were infants, as revealed by the hospital in-charge dean Dr. S.R. Wakode, who attempted to downplay the severity of the situation claiming that many of the deceased were outpatients who were brought to the hospital in a critical condition from neighbouring districts of Hingoli, Parbhani and Washim. Some were from the bordering villages in Telangana.

“There are 142 admissions in the paediatric department of the hospital 42 are still critical. Oxygen as well as ventilator facilities are there,” he said, adding that most of the infants were in the 0–3 day age group and had very low weight.

In response to the crisis, Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif is scheduled to visit the hospital to take an update on the situation.