Nurses continue hunger strike atop water tank

HYDERABAD - At least 10 nurses of a government-run hospital in Warangal Monday continued their indefinite hunger strike atop an overhead water tank to press their demands, including regularisation of services.

Braving the cold, the nurses stayed on the water tank for the third day at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital (MGM) in Warangal town, about 140 km from here.

The condition of five nurses has worsened, said a doctor who went up and examined them.

The nurses have threatened to jump from the tank if police make any attempt to force them to end the stir. A group of nurses is sitting on the ground around the tank to prevent police, who have registered cases against the striking nurses, from approaching the area.

The hospital officials said regularising the services of the nurses was not in their hands but they were ready to accept other demands. They said it was for the government to decide on their main demand.

Local leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), including a legislator, tried in vain to persuade nurses to call off the stir.

Last month, contract nurses had gone on an indefinite fast on the water tank in the hospital premises. They had called off the fast after two days following an assurance from the hospital authorities.