135 patients died due to non-availability of emergency services in BMC Hospitals

Mumbai: As many as 135 patients have died in BMC Hospital due to non-availability of emergency services.

A BMC lawyer has told the High Court that 34 patients have died in BYL Nair Hospital, 53 in King Edward Memorial Hospital and 48 in Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, also known as Sion Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) called off its strike after the Bombay High Court's order that if the doctors do not return to work by tomorrow punitive action can be taken against them by the government and the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The Association was supporting Mumbai resident doctors on strike.Following the warning issued by the Bombay High Court, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) earlier in the day assured that they would return to work by 8 a.m. tomorrow.

Disassociating itself from the strike, MARD had through an affidavit told the High Court that they don't have any objection if action is taken against the agitating doctors.

Earlier in the day, MARD continued the strike due to not receiving a certified copy of the High Court's order.The association yesterday asserted that the doctors on strike were ready to join back after the High Court assured to provide armed police personnel for their security.

The High Court yesterday ordered the doctors on strike to resume their duties and give some time to the government for providing them proper security.

The High Court also ordered the state government to provide security at all government hospitals so that the doctors could work without fear.It ordered that no punitive action should be taken against the protesting doctors once they resumed their duties.