Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 3rd March 2026

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance over the botched cataract surgery resulting in removal of 9 patients' infected eye and vision loss of 9 others at a private hospital in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh

Issues notices to the state Chief Secretary and Gorakhpur Senior Superintendent of Police, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that after botched cataract surgery at a private hospital in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, the infected eye of at least nine patients had to be removed and nine others lost vision in one eye. Reportedly, the surgeries were conducted on 30 patients during an Eye Camp on 1st February 2026 at the private hospital.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights of the victims. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.

According to the media report, carried on 20th February 2026, the patients started complaining of severe pain and discharge from the operated eye within 24 hours of the surgeries. A total 18 patients developed infections after which they were referred to Delhi, Lucknow and Varanasi for medical treatment as their condition worsened.

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