India: 11 women die, 62 more hospitalized after being paid to be sterilized

New Delhi (CNN) -- At least 11 women have died and 62 were hospitalized after undergoing sterilization surgery at a government-run mobile health clinic in India, authorities said.

Those killed and injured were among more than 80 women who had come to a "camp" for sterilization surgery in Bilaspur district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, said R.K. Vange, chief medical health officer for the area. The women were each paid 1,400 rupees ($23) to undergo the procedure

The sterilizations took place on Saturday, Vange said. Many of the women developed complications by Monday, with four different hospitals taking in patients.

Six of the dozens being treated were in critical condition Tuesday, according to hospital officials.

District officials have ordered an investigation and the results of post-mortems are expected by Wednesday, Vange added.

Four local health department officials have been suspended in the wake of the deaths and hospitalizations, according to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh's office.

 

Human Rights Watch has condemned sterilization drives by Indian health officials to curb population growth. Women are often paid or coerced to undergo surgery in unsanitary conditions.

The group has urged India to focus more efforts on contraception and male vasectomies, which are far less dangerous procedures.

According to CNN affiliate IBN, 83 women had the sterilization surgery in five hours at the mobile clinic.