Congress lashes out at BJP over 24 deaths in a day at Maharashtra hospital

The Congress has hit out at the BJP over 24 deaths in as many hours in a government hospital in Maharashtra’s Nanded. Former party chief Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP government spends crores of rupees on publicity but there is no money for children’s medicines.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanded strict action against those responsible and compensation for the affected families.

Twenty-four deaths, including those of 12 infants, were reported between September 30 and October 1 in the government hospital in Nanded, a top Maharashtra health official said on Monday (October 2).

“In the past 24 hours, 24 deaths have been reported at Nanded government Hospital and Medical College. Of these, 12 are infants who were referred here by some local private hospitals. The remaining deaths are of adults for various reasons,” Dr Dilip Mhaisekar, Director, Medical Education and Research, Maharashtra, told PTI.

A three-member expert committee has been set up to probe the incident, the health official told PTI.

Congress tirade

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said the news of the death of 24 people, including 12 newborns, due to shortage of medicines in a government hospital in Maharashtra is extremely saddening and expressed his deepest condolences to all the bereaved families.

“The BJP government spends thousands of crores of rupees on its publicity, but there is no money for medicines for children? In the eyes of the BJP, the lives of the poor have no value,” he alleged.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh asked Modi to break his “silence” on the incident.

In a post in Hindi on X, Priyanka Gandhi said she received the “sad news” of the death of 24 patients, including 12 infants, due to shortage of medicines from Maharashtra.

“May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” she said. “Strict action should be taken against those responsible and compensation should be given to the affected families,” she added.

In a post on X, the Congress said this is a very serious issue. “Our condolences to the families of the deceased. May God give them the strength to bear this sorrow,” it said.

According to reports, one of the reasons behind the death of patients is shortage of essential medicines, the party said. “This is a very serious issue. Strict action should be taken against those who were negligent in this matter,” it said.

The government needs to work on the ground rather than focusing on publicity, the Congress said.

The deaths

The 12 infants who died at the hospital comprised six boys and as many girls, Dean Dr SR Wakode of Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital told reporters, adding that most were in the 0–3-day age group and had “very low weight”.

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

“There are 142 admissions in the paediatric department, of which 42 are still critical. Oxygen as well as ventilator facilities are there. The patients are from neighbouring districts, including Hingoli, Parbhani and Washim. Some are from villages in neighbouring Telangana,” said Dr Chavan.

“Among the 12 adults who lost their lives, five were men and seven women. 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.

In the past two days, the hospital has received more patients from the rural parts as well as from distant places who are in serious condition, the collectorate statement said.

Congress leader and former chief minister Ashok Chavan said the Eknath Shinde government must make arrangements for medical staff as well as funds for the Nanded GMCH on priority. Chavan said the hospital has 500 beds but some 1,200 patients are admitted at present.

“It is natural that medical staff and doctors are overburdened due to such a large number of patients. I will speak to state deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar, seeking his intervention for funds,” Chavan said.

The hospital has received Rs 12 crore funding in this year’s District Planning Development Committee (DPDC), while the state government has also sanctioned Rs 4 crore additional funds, the statement from the collectorate said.

The dean has also said posts continue to remain vacant after the transfer of some nurses, while there is also a shortage of medical officers, the Congress leader claimed.

Earlier, in a 24-hour period between August 12 and 13, 18 patients died in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa, Thane district, sparking furore across the state.

(With agency inputs)