According to hospital sources, Mangal Ghadi (40), a dresser in the operation theatre, had been complaining of fever since the last few days. On Tuesday night, Ghadi was admitted in a breathless state in the hospital's male medical ward at around 10.30 pm.

Arjun Ghadi, Mangal's brother, said instead of admitting Mangal to the ICCU, the doctors put him into the highly congested medical ward. He was not attended to by a single senior doctor, but was merely briefly examined by an intern, added sources.

Ghadi died at around 12.30 am. He was married, with three school-going children. The doctors conducted X-rays on Ghadi after his death to show that he was being given proper treatment, alleged sources.

The paramedicalstaff went on strike when they heard about the incident this morning. The outpatient department had to be closed, and several patients had to return after a long wait. Staff of the X-ray department and laboratories as well as nurses and wardboys also went on strike, demanding immediate action against the doctors and an inquiry into the incident. Tutor nurses had to fill in for staff nurses in many wards, and patients reportedly did not receive their meals on time.

The strike was called off after Nandu Satam and chairperson of the health committee, Sardar Tara Singh, visited the hospital. Satam said the administration would wait for the post mortem report before deciding whether the doctors had been negligent. The post mortem was carried out in the evening, but the cause of death has been kept pending since the organs have been sent for a histopathology report, informed sources.

An inquiry has been ordered into the matter, said Satam, adding that all arrangements were being made to send Ghadi's body toRatnagiri district, which was his native place.

Staff members have also demanded that the deceased's wife be given a job in the municipal corporation. Added Sada Kamtekar, secretary, Municipal Karmachari Kamgar Sena, the union has demanded that special cots be reserved in various wards for hospital staff to administer them quicker treatment.

Inspector Arun Shintre of Juhu police station said there had been no complaint of negligence against the hospital doctors so far. Also, the cause of death would be known only after the post mortem examination, he added.