Thane - A total of 17 patients have passed away within the past 24 hours at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital, operated by the Thane Municipal Corporation in Kalwa, Thane city. Maharashtra Minister Tanaji Sawant confirmed the distressing news on Sunday, as reported by PTI.

The issue first came to light when five patients succumbed within a span of 12 hours on August 10. Deputy Commissioner of Police Ganesh Gawde stated, "We have received information about 17 deaths within the last 24 hours, a significant departure from the usual daily figure of six to seven deaths." Gawde mentioned that the hospital management attributed some of the deaths to patients arriving in critical conditions and others being elderly. To prevent any potential disturbances due to the high number of deaths, increased police presence has been established at the hospital.

In response to the situation, State Health Minister Sawant has requested the hospital's dean to provide a report within two days regarding the 17 recent deaths, out of which 13 patients were in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Sawant emphasized that appropriate action would be taken based on the dean's report. The hospital falls under the jurisdiction of the state's medical education and research department, overseen by Minister Hasan Mushrif, who has personally engaged with the matter.

To thoroughly investigate these occurrences, a state-level committee has been appointed. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan expressed concern over the "16 deaths" recorded in a single day within a hospital with a capacity for 500 patients.