India, July 19 -- After over 25,000 nurses in the state went on an indefinite strike suspending services on Thursday, government hospitals in Mumbai are facing a dire shortage of staff to conduct major surgeries. While nursing students in medical colleges are managing emergency services, hospitals are forced to postpone planned and routine surgeries.

The strike, a part of a state-wide protest held by the 47 branches of the Maharashtra State Nurses Association (MSNA) demands that the government halt contractual recruitment of nurses, increase allowances, and fill vacant posts to reduce the workload of nurses in government hospitals across Maharashtra.

Dr Ajay Bhandarwar, dean of JJ Hospital said, "We are employing nursing students to aid...