Under severe attack from the Opposition, the state cabinet expressed concerns over the multiple deaths that occurred in 24 hours in a government medical college in Nanded. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told media persons after the meeting that the tragedy was being probed, but denied the charge that a shortage of medicine caused the deaths of several people, including newborn babies.

“We sought details from the secretary. There was no shortage of medicines. In fact, Rs 12 crore had already been approved for purchasing medicine,” said Shinde, adding that some old patients had been suffering from heart ailments. Ministers Girish Mahajan and Hasan Mushrif, who is in charge of the medical education department that runs the medical college and the hospital attached, reached Nanded to review the situation on Tuesday.