In Nanded, Maharashtra, where 31 people lost their lives in just 48 hours, the dean of a government hospital took it upon himself to clean a dirty toilet in the facility. This action came after Hemant Patil, an MP from the ruling Shiv Sena, instructed the dean to do so. After the deaths garnered national attention, Patil visited the Shankarrao Chavan Government Hospital to assess the situation. Upon discovering a filthy toilet, the MP took hold of the dean, Shyamrao Wakode, and requested that he clean it.
In video footage, Patil is seen standing while Wakode proceeds to empty the toilet. The dean places a container, a bottle, and a toilet brush on a window sill, while Patil sprays water into the toilet. Wakode, armed with a wiper, directs streams of dirty water into the commode.
On Monday, the hospital reported 24 deaths within 24 hours, with the number rising to 31 within 48 hours. Additionally, 71 patients are said to be in critical condition. Despite allegations of medical negligence, Wakode denied any shortage of medicine or doctors. He claimed that the patients received proper care but did not respond to the treatment.
Opposition parties have criticized the Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra, which includes the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), the BJP, and the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the BJP government’s priorities, emphasizing the need for adequate medical supplies for children.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his distress over the deaths of 24 patients, including 12 infants, at a civil hospital in Nanded. He called for a detailed investigation and strict punishment for those responsible. Similar incidents had occurred in a government hospital in Thane earlier in August 2023, resulting in the loss of 18 lives.
To probe the deaths, a committee led by Dr. Dilip Mhaisekar, the Director of Medical Education and Research, has been established. Hasan Mushrif, the Minister of Medical Education in Maharashtra, has also planned a visit to the hospital and promised thorough investigations. Anyone found negligent will face appropriate punishment.