THANE: Eighteen patients admitted to government-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial (CSMM) Hospital in Thane’s Kalwa were reported dead within a span of 24 hours.

The incident comes close on the heels of public and political outcry after five patients died within one day on August 10.
Six of the patients were from Thane city, and another six were referred to the hospital from Kalyan.

The state government has set up a high-level committee to investigate the incident.
Six of the patients died within 24 hours of being admitted to the hospital.
Relatives of the patients have alleged negligence by hospital staff, but the administration has denied these charges. Activists have claimed that there is a shortage of staff at the hospital.
The hospital is the only major tertiary hospital in the area, and it receives patients from neighboring districts and regions.
Relatives of the deceased patients have complained that the hospital staff neglected their demands for admitting their loved ones to the ICU. They have also said that they were made to wait for treatment.