DHAKA: Eight women have died after undergoing sterilisation surgery at a health camp organised by the government in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

Thirty other women were admitted to hospital and doctors have said several are in a serious condition, reports the BBC.

The tubectomy operations were carried out on Saturday on 83 women in Pendari village in Bilaspur district.

Officials have denied negligence, but villagers allege the surgeries were done hurriedly.

They said all the 83 women were operated on in just six hours by the sole doctor at the camp along with his assistant.

Bilaspur district health officer Dr RK Bhange told BBC Hindi, ‘The cause of the death would be known only after the post-mortem report is available’.

The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

BDST: 1230 HRS, NOV 11, 2014