In a heart-wrenching incident, 24 lives, including those of 12 innocent infants, slipped away in a mere 24 hours at a government hospital in Maharashtra’s Nanded district. The Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College hospital witnessed this grim tragedy, sending shockwaves through the region.

The untimely demise of these patients between September 30 and October 1 has shaken the community. Dr. Dilip Mhaisekar, director of medical education and research in Maharashtra, revealed that among the 24 individuals, 12 were fragile infants, referred to the hospital by local private medical facilities.

The situation was dire for many of these patients, who hailed from remote corners of the district. They arrived at the hospital in critical condition, having fallen victim to snakebites and other medical emergencies.

The pain deepens as it’s revealed that several of the infants had only come into this world within the last 24 to 48 hours, some underweight and frail.

The hospital’s acting dean, Dr. S R Wakode, noted that 12 of the patients were in a grave state when they reached the facility, emphasizing that they came from far-flung areas of the district.

In response to this tragedy, a panel has been formed to investigate the circumstances surrounding these tragic deaths, as announced by Hasan Mushrif, the state’s medical education minister.

However, it’s not just this devastating loss that’s of concern. The hospital, with a capacity of 500 beds, is grappling with the overwhelming burden of accommodating 1,200 patients. Chronic issues such as staff shortages, equipment problems, and a shortage of medicine have plagued the facility.

Santosh Pandagale, a member of the hospital’s governing council, shed light on these challenges, citing the non-functioning of crucial machines like the CT scanner due to a lack of funds for maintenance contracts. Additionally, vital roles for nurses and doctors remain vacant, and the shortage of medicines persists.

In the wake of this tragedy, political voices have raised questions. Rahul Gandhi, former Congress chief, criticized the government’s lavish spending on publicity while neglecting essential healthcare needs for children. He lamented that, in the eyes of the ruling party, the lives of the less fortunate seem to hold no value.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his “silence” on this tragic incident. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan visited the hospital, highlighting the grave crisis faced by government medical colleges, primarily stemming from staff shortages and medicine scarcities.

As the investigation unfolds, there remains the grim possibility that the number of casualties may rise. In this somber moment, the loss of 24 lives, especially the tender lives of 12 infants, serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for improved healthcare infrastructure and resources.

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