GORAKHPUR, Feb. 13 -- At least two elderly patients were forced to undergo surgical removal of an eye each earlier this month after developing severe infection following cataract surgery in Gorakhpur. Four other affected patients lost their vision temporarily and are currently undergoing treatment at All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi, Gorakhpur chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Rajesh Kumar Jha confirmed. Dr Jha said 11 patients were referred to AIIMS New Delhi by Dr Rajesh Rai, the director of a private hospital in Sikriganj town of Gorakhpur. "All referred patients are recovering from the infection," the CMO said. Officials stated that 40 patients underwent cataract surgery at the private hospital in Sikriganj on February 2. Within three days, 11 patients developed eye infections and were subsequently referred to AIIMS New Delhi for specialised treatment after they complained of pus discharge from the eyes and vomiting. Following the complaints, health officials constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the matter. The report is expected by Friday morning. Deputy chief medical officer Dr. A.K. Chaudhary said, "Samples of medicines, operating theatre equipment, surgical instruments, tables and cloth have been collected and sent for laboratory examination. Further action will be taken after the report is received." People aware of the matter claimed that three patients underwent surgical removal of their eyes. However, district health officials have not confirmed the third case. Gyan Singh said the left eye of his elder brother Arjun Singh, 80, was surgically removed on Wednesday. He was referred to AIIMS New Delhi on February 6. Similarly, Mahima, resident of Bari village, said her grandmother Shobhraji Devi (68), was referred to AIIMS New Delhi on February 7 with the help of an Ayushman card. An eye was removed on February 9 after her condition deteriorated. Dr Amresh Singh, head of the microbiology department at Gorakhpur's Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College, said a microbiology team collected samples of medicines, surgical instruments, operation theatre equipment, and other materials used during the surgeries. "The operating theatre has been sealed, and the samples have been sent for laboratory testing. The test report is expected by Friday," he said. CMO Dr Rajesh Kumar Jha stated that the three-member inquiry committee, comprising Dr Subodh Kumar, Dr Ramesh, and Dr AK Chaudhary, will submit its final probe report by Friday morning regarding the cause of the infection outbreak. "Further legal action against the hospital will depend on the investigation findings," he added....