AURANGABAD: Four infants aged between eight and 12 months died on Saturday, a day after they were administered measles vaccine at Waghola village, about 30km from Aurangadad.

Six other infants in the same age group are battling for their lives at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad.

Aurangabad deputy director, health, M I J Qazi, said: "The health department immediately stopped the vaccination drive, which was launched in Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed and Hingoli districts on September 12." About 4,000 vaccine bulbs had been sent to each district, he added.

The police have seized the vaccines and other materials and sent them for forensic examination. Aurangabad rural DSP Prabhakar Shelke said a case has been registered.

Bhagwan Gaikwad, father of one of the infants admitted to the hospital, said, a team comprising an auxiliary nurse midwife, a multi-purpose worker and a supervisor from Jategaon primary health centre administered the vaccines to 10 babies at Waghola around 11 am on Friday. The 10 infants developed high fever around 3 pm.

"They were rushed to the Phulamri rural hospital from where they were referred to GMCH late in the evening," Appasaheb Borde, a relative of another patient, said.

However, one of the infants died on the way to the hospital, while three others succumbed on Saturday.