In Punjab, at least 15 persons have lost their eyesight after a cataract operation at a free eye camp organized by an NGO in Gurdaspur district. They all belonged to Amritsar district. Reports of some more cases from Gurdaspur are also coming in but State Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani told AIR that exact figure of those affected is still not known. He said no permission of the health department was taken by the NGO. He said a civil surgeon level inquiry has been marked to ascertain the truth.
Amritsar Civil Surgeon, Dr. Rajiv Bhalla said the affected patients were operated at an eye camp in Ghumaan village of Gurdaspur district. He said all of them have been admitted in Amritsar Medical College. When asked about the early reports of about 50 persons affected in the cataract surgery, Dr. Bhalla also said that it is yet not clear as he was having the figure of those belonged to Amritsar.
Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, Ravi Bhagat said that a high level inquiry has been ordered. The incident emerged when the affected patients approached the Deputy Commissioner yesterday, to lodge a complaint against the NGO and the doctors concerned.