Twelve infants died in a single day at a hospital in Maharashtra, India, leading to accusations of negligence from opposition politicians.
The infants were among 24 deaths recorded at the Shankarrao Chavan Government Hospital in Nanded district.
Concerns were raised about overcrowding in the neonatal unit, where multiple babies were placed in a single incubator designed for one. The hospital’s dean did not respond to allegations of negligence, and the Maharashtra government initiated an inquiry into the deaths.
“My brother’s one-day-old infant died on Sunday at the hospital, and he was the fifth baby to die. We saw four more babies die in front of us,” said Yogesh Solanki, whose family brought the baby to the hospital.
Earlier on Tuesday, Wakode told ANI news agency, in which Reuters has a minority stake, that the 12 adult patients died of various ailments including diabetes, liver failure and kidney failure.
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“There was no shortage of medicines or doctors. Proper care was provided to the patients, but their bodies did not respond to the treatment, which caused deaths,” Wakode was quoted by ANI as saying.
India’s public healthcare system faces significant challenges, including a shortage of staff and equipment. This incident follows a similar one in August, where 18 patients died in a state-run hospital in Thane.
