New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over reported botched cataract surgey taking away the eyesight of six patients at a private hospital in Kanpur.

It is reported that the patients were told that the eye surgeries were being done at a free camp but were charged Rs 1500 each.

Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports that six patients lost eyesight due to alleged negligence by the doctors after the cataract surgery at a private hospital in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, the human rights body issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, of the state calling for a detailed report in the matter including the status of the FIR registered in connection with the incident and relief/compensation, if any, provided to the victims.

The Commission has observed the contents of media reports, if true, amount to human rights violations of the victims.

The NHRC said it would like to know the steps taken and proposed to be taken by the State government to ensure that such painful incidents do not recur in the future.

The report must also contain whether the Hospital had obtained prior approval from the District authorities before holding a free eye surgery camp.

The human rights body asked for a response from the authorities within 4 weeks.

According to the media reports, carried on November 24, the cataract surgeries were performed at the free eye surgery camp by the private hospital from November 2 to 4.

Reportedly, post-surgery, the infection became so severe that the cornea of four patients had to be removed by the doctors at the GSVM Medical College, Kanpur.

A probe is being conducted to trace how many patients got infected after the eye surgery at this camp.