KATHMANDU: In an act of sheer negligence on the part of concerned authorities, Koshi Zonal Hospital, Biratnagar had to halt operation service today in lack of pure water.

The hospital's medical superintendent Dr Roshan Pokharel said that they could not manage pure water required during a surgery as the water pump gave out, leading to the halt of the service.

As a result, the hospital referred surgical patients to private hospitals in case of emergency.

"We referred many surgical patients needing emergency care to private hospitals after the service at the hospital halted," said Dr Yogendra Mishra.

As a result, patients were forced to pay relatively high charges for surgeries at private hospitals, while patients and attendants complained of being forced to buy mineral water bottles at comparatively higher prices in lack of water facility at the hospital.

They also complained of stink emanating from hospital toilets for want of water.

When asked, Pokharel said that the supply of water to the hospital would ease by this evening, leading to the resumption of the service.