Mumbai, 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, part of a state-wide protest held by 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 across Maharashtra. At St George's hospital, with most of its daily 333 nurses on strike from Thursday, 40 nursing students are managing the emergency services. The hospital's resident doctors are also helping handle the patient load. A senior official from the hospital said, "Currently, the doctors are overseeing every patient as the students are still not completely trained." The official added that with at least 50 daily admissions, they would reach out to the government if the issue was not resolved soon. On Friday, deans of all the government hospitals in Mumbai held a meeting with medical superintendents to discuss a plan of action if the strike persists and nurses continue to suspend their services. Meanwhile, senior nurses in hospitals, despite bearing a heavier workload since Thursday, said that the strike was necessary. "The neglect to the staffers is evident, there must be a resolution," said a senior nurse. Dr Ajay Bhandarwar, dean of JJ Hospital said, "This issue can only be resolved between MSNA and the government." Prakash Abitkar, minister of public health and family welfare said that the authorities would soon meet the nurses, and added, "We will convince them to call off the strike and work together to solve their issues." MSNA state vice president Hemlata Gajbe said, "Until we are heard, and all our demands are considered, this strike will continue."...