Dharamsala, Dec 11 (IANS): The Himachal government Thursday suspended a male gynaecologist for negligence on duty as he allegedly performed five family planning surgeries at a camp in a drunken state, Health Minister Kaul Singh told the assembly here.

"We have placed the doctor under suspension for negligence and have ordered an inquiry into the incident," he said.

The doctor performed five surgeries at a camp in Thunag village in Mandi district Wednesday and then fell asleep, leaving the sixth patient (who was administered anaesthesia) on the operation table as she was.

A total of 67 women had registered for the operation, out of which 30 had already been administered initial atropin injection (given before anaesthesia).

Replying to a calling attention motion by Bharatiya Janata Party member Jairam Thakur, the minister said it was a matter of luck that all the women, who underwent surgeries, were fine and there was no goof-up on other accounts.

He said the medical examination of the doctor has show that he was drunk, but the quantity of liquor consumed by him was small.