Over 20,000 resident doctors in the national capital yesterday went on mass casual leave in solidarity with their Maharashtra counterparts, leading to postponement of over 800 surgeries across Delhi government and civic body-run hospitals. It left thousands of patients in the lurch with OPD functions also hit. The doctors are agitating over rising cases of assault on doctors by patients' kin. <br/><br/>AIR correspondent reports that resident doctors from around 40 government hospitals, including RML, Lady Hardinge, Safdarjung stayed away from work, while those at AIIMS continued with their protest against assaults on doctors by wearing helmets at work for the second day. Though emergency services at hospitals were not affected due to strike, the functioning of out patient departments and other services were hit with doctors abstaining from work. <br/><br/>A number of private hospitals, including Sir Ganga Ram hospital have said, they have decided to extend support to agitating doctors in Maharashtra and their OPD services will not be available today. The Indian Medical Association which has around 2.7 lakh members across the country, has also supported the strike. Delhi government hospitals every day witness nearly 1,600 pre-scheduled surgeries and over 200 emergency ones. Of the 5,400 OPD cards registered in Delhi government hospitals yesterday only 25 per cent of patients could consult doctors. <br/><br/>Union Health Minister J P Nadda has expressed deep concern on security issues relating to doctors. In a tweet, Mr Nadda requested state Govts to take proactive measure to ensure their security. He also urged the doctors to continue to provide their best services to the people, so that they don't suffer.