The condition of six Air India pilots who are on a hunger strike for the past three days deteriorated as they continued the protest despite medical advice.

In Delhi, four pilots were reported critical due to drop in their blood-sugar level and high ketone level, indicating partial kidney failure,

the union said, adding one pilot was hospitalised.  In Mumbai, one pilot (among nine on hunger strike), was taken to G T Hospital due to drop in blood pressure.

Air India had deputed one of its doctors to examine the pilots who are on hunger strike in Delhi. But her visit to the venue led to a controversy, with the union charging the airline management of ignoring sacked pilots and examining only those still in service.