On Camera, Pigs, Filth In Maharashtra Hospital Where 31 Died In 48 Hours

Pigs roamed as relatives of patients went about their chores - some brushing their teeth, some washing utensils. The scene was from the hospital in central Maharashtra where 31 patients had died in a span of 48 hours.

Hygiene was among the major issues raised in the aftermath of the Nanded hospital horror, a glimpse of which was captured on Wednesday.

Plastic bottles and wrappers clogged the drains. Pigs roamed in the open drainage next to the hospital canteen. The visuals at Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital raised big questions over cleanliness and hygiene - the basics that are expected at a health facility.

"This is how it is every day," said a woman as she continued cleaning a vessel.

Another complained, "We can't use the toilet. We get nothing here; we have to go out for medicines and everything else. Where will the poor people go?"

The string of complaints continued.

"Nothing is available here. You'll have to get everything from outside. If you have don't have money, your child will die," said a relative of another patient.

Suddenly, a woman emerges with a broom and starts cleaning the drain. "I work at the canteen but I clean this area," she said refusing that she was asked to clean the area after spotting the camera.

A woman interrupted, "You must see the condition of the maternity ward to understand how patients live there."

A contractual sweeper said there aren't enough staff in the hospital and one worker is tasked with multiple wards. "The pigs roam here every day. They eat the garbage. There should be two-three cleaners in every ward. How will one person handle multiple wards?" he said.

As many as 31 patients including 16 newborns died at the hospital within 48 hours since September 30. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde yesterday said his government had taken the deaths very seriously, but denied any medicine shortage.

Yesterday, Shiv Sena MP Hemant Patil made the hospital's dean Shyamrao Wakode clean a dirty toilet at the government facility. A case has now been filed against the politician 

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