Dadeldhura, December 13:

Enraged locals in Dadeldhura today held captive members of a parliamentary team which had reached there to inspect the Team Hospital, which had been closed after the government did not renew its license.

The MPs were holding talks with the officials at the District Administration Office when hundreds of locals gathered and padlocked the main gate of the office.

They also shut down Dhangadhi bazaar, schools and commercial services and blocked traffic to protest against the government indifference towards the plight of the people here. The parliamentary team had to stay cooped up in the DAO from 11 am to 3 pm. Team members Dr Bansidhar Mishra, Tanka Prasad Poudel, Gopal Koirala and Lekh Raj Bhatta were allowed to go out only after they publicly pledged to take definite steps for resumption of services in the hospital. Locals, however, kept the bazaar, schools and transport services closed till 5 pm.

Dr Mishra said that he requested the Health Ministry to send an agreement letter to the Team Hospital office for the resumption of hospital services for a one-year period. Dr Arun Budha, superintendent of Dadeldhura Team Hospital said that he had been unable to continue services at the hospital as no official confirmation about renewal of license had come from the Team Hospital central office in Kathmandu.

Nepali Congress district president Raghuvar Bhatta said people were forced to go to the district public health office for treatment as the hospital was closed and that four of these persons had died for want of proper treatment.

He warned of a major protest if the government did not arrange for immediate reopening of the hospital.

The district police office said that four police personnel including inspector Surendra Prasad Bhatta were injured while trying to control the agitated mob.

The license of the hospital expired on November 23 and all the services there came to a halt from November 26.

The hospital was established in Amargadhi,. the district headquarters, 42 years ago and some 250 patients from Dadeldhura, Doti, Achham, Bajhang, Darchula, Bajura, Baitadi, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts used to visit the hospital daily, Dr Budha said.