Chandigarh, Dec 5 (IANS): At least 15 people have lost their eyesight after undergoing cataract operation at a charitable hospital following a free eye check-up conducted by an NGO in Punjab's Gurdaspur district, officials said Thursday.

The people who lost their eyesight were all aged above 60 years. They were admitted to the Amritsar Medical College hospital, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said.

All of them belong to Gago Mahal village in Ajnala sub-division of Amritsar district.

Bhagat said 50-60 people were checked at the eye camp. The cataract operation was conducted recently at a charitable hospital in Ghuman village in Gurdaspur district.

The administration came to know about the incident after some affected villagers complained to the deputy commissioner.

He said the doctors at the medical college said it will take up to one week to know if the eyesight of the affected people can be saved.

Investigation was on, and the role of the NGO and the doctors was being probed.