Kanti Velugu leaves 7 blind'

WARANGAL: Eighteen persons who underwent cataract surgery at a private hospital in Hanamkonda on September 22 under the state government’s Kanti Velugu programme suffered from infection leading to problems with their vision. The incident came to light late on Friday. Most of the victims are senior citizens and say that when they went back to the hospital with complaints of irritation and blurred vision, the doctors performed a second surgery on Thursday.

Seven of the patients complained that there was no improvement even after the second surgery. They said that they could not see at all.  The remaining 11 patients are getting better, but the infection persists. Relatives of the patients brought the issue to the notice of district health and medical officer Dr Harish Raj. After an inquiry, he found that the seven patients needed better treatment, persuaded their relatives and arranged a vehicle to send them to LV Prasad Eye Hospital in Hyderabad.

The authorities said that they have sealed the operation theatre of the private hospital where the cataract surgeries were performed, besides ordering an inquiry. The victims were identified as Guguloth Bhagavan of Khanapur, Goparaju Buchamma of Hasanparthy, Bommakallu Venkataiah, Gorantha Sujatha, Marapaka Lakshmi, Somani Lakshmi of Warangal, Mudike Rajaiah, Dulepaka Komuraiah of Bhupalapally, Allam Komuramallu, M. Chandramogili of Atmakur, Ajmeera Megya, Ajmeera Janaki of Narsampet, Kakkerla Sarojana, Kandula Mallaiah of Hanamkonda, B. Sarojana of Parkal, Manda Shanthamma of Shayampet Haveli and Meshaboina Komuramma of Mulugu.