27 people lost their complete eyesight following a severe infection after a mass cataract surgery at the Seth Baldev Das Bajoria district hospital in Saharanpur on December 3. Families of the patients complained of using poor-quality lenses by the hospital.

Dr S Lal, who performed the surgeries, didn’t respond to any calls or messages by anyone. Nipun Bhardwaj, a social activist said that he helped around 20 people suffering from infections after the surgery to various hospitals including PGI Chandigarh and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

5 of the 27 patients were shifted to the Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (PGI) for treatment. Doctors at PGI, who are currently treating the five patients, said all the patients were suffering from post-cataract surgery infections and something might have gone wrong during the surgery itself. A senior ophthalmologist at PGI Chandigarh said that among the 5 patients with post-cataract surgery complications from Saharanpur, 3 were operated and 2 would be operated tomorrow.

Sanjeev Mangalik, the Chief medical officer (CMO), Saharanpur, said that he has ordered a detailed investigation of the matter. He further added that a team of doctors comprising of private doctors, office bearers of the Indian Medical Association and government doctors would investigate the case to ensure a fair probe.