Gandhinagar, July 30 - As many as 550 final year MBBS interns in various Gujarat hospitals who were supporting the resident doctors on indefinite strike since July 23 resumed duty Thursday.

However, at least 1,200 resident doctors who are postgraduate students serving with various government hospitals in the state are continuing with their strike to demand a higher stipend.

The interns were warned by the state government that their support to the resident doctors and their absence from hospitals would be taken seriously and expulsions ordered for absentee interns from Thursday onwards.

'There had been some respite for the government hospitals with the 550 interns deciding to resume duty today (Thursday).