New Delhi/IBNS: Twelve newborns and as many adults died at a state-run hospital in Maharashtra's Nanded in the last 24 hours, media reports said.

The dean of the hospital has blamed a shortage of medicines and hospital staff.

Of 24 deaths in the last 24 hours, 12 adults were suffering from "various ailments, mostly snake bites", the dean of Nanded's Shankarrao Chavan Government Hospital told the media.

"Six males and six female babies died in the last 24 hours. Twelve adults also died due to various ailments, mostly snake bites. We faced some difficulty since various staff were being transferred," he said.

"We are a tertiary-level care centre and the only such place in the 70 to 80-km radius. So, patients come to us from far-off places. On some days, the number of patients increases and it creates a problem for the budget," he said.

Refuting the dean's claims that there was a shortage of medicine and funds, the hospital, in a press release, said: "Essential medicines are available in the hospital. The hospital has ₹ 12 crore in funds. For this financial year, ₹ 4 crore has been approved. Other patients are being treated as necessary."

"There were 12 adult patients (five male and seven female) and 12 children. Among adults, four were suffering from heart disease, one from poisoning, one from gastric disease, two from kidney ailments, one from obstetric complications, and three were accident victims. Among the children, four in the terminal stage were referred from private hospitals," the statement said.

Calling the deaths "unfortunate", Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told reporters in Mumbai that more information will be sought about what happened at the hospital and action will be taken.

According to reports, a committee has been formed to probe the lapses if any.

The Opposition in Maharashtra launched a scathing attack on the Eknath Shinde government in the state, saying the "triple-engine sarkar (of the BJP, Eknath Shinde Sena and the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP) should take responsibility".

"A total of 24 lives were lost. Seventy are still critical. There is a lack of medical facilities and staff. Many nurses were transferred and their replacements were not given. Many machines are not working," former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress veteran Ashok Chavan said after visiting the hospital on Monday.

The hospital has a capacity of 500, but 1,200 patients are admitted. I will speak to Ajit Pawar (about this). The government should look into the matter keenly and take control of the situation," he said.