Health Secretary Narayan Swarup Nigam, recently, held a meeting with the doctors of the eye department of all government hospitals in the state.

According to the initial investigation report, submitted to the Swasthya Bhawan, the infection spread from the medications and fluids used at the state-run Garden Reach Super Speciality Hospital.

“It is suspected that the quality of the batch of medicines and fluids at Garden Reach Hospital was not correct,” an official said, adding that, “The medicines of that batch are being identified. It is also being checked to which hospitals it was supplied.”

Another hospital in Garden Reach’s Nadial has been banned from using the remaining drugs of that batch, said sources. The authorities have sent the fluid samples for testing to the Microbiology Department of SSKM Hospital for culture.

Most residents of Garden Reach, Metiabruz and Nadial had opted for the eye-surgery in June, which was free of cost. However, post surgery they complained of blurred vision, pain and redness in the eye. Of the 35 patients, 16 were admitted to Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Kolkata and most of them have been discharged. “They have been given antibiotics to reduce eye infections,” said officials.

Sixty-year-old Rafik Mondal was supposed to undergo four surgeries at RIO after his cataract operation in Garden Reach on June 28 went wrong. “I’ve undergone a total of five surgeries and still unable to see with the right eye,” he said while speaking with The Indian Express.