Botched up eye surgery: NHRC issues notice to Punjab on 60 losing eyesight

New Delhi, Dec 5: The NHRC issued notice to Punjab after reportedly 60 people lost their eyesight in botched up surgeries in the state's Gurdaspur district, a statement said Friday.

Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) asked for a report from the state's chief secretary, the secretary of health as well as the district magistrate, calling for reports within two weeks.

Citing the media report, the NHRC said that 60 people lost their eyesight after undergoing cataract surgeries at a camp organised by an NGO in Ghumman village in Gurdaspur district around ten days ago.

Reportedly, 16 of the victims were from Amritsar and the others residents of Gurdaspur, the NHRC said.

"The contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victims who lost their eyesight," said the commission.

IANS