Raghunath Rajak (45), a resident of Hajarhathkalitalla in Howrah, was to be operated for hernia.

The patient’s relatives allege that he was left with an attendant, Bhim Chowdhury, who was to escort him to his ward after certain tests, but Chowdhury allegedly left him unattended after the tests were conducted.

“My father was admitted to the SSKM Hospital on Wednesday and was allotted bed number 49 in Curzon Ward,” said Rajak’s son Arvind.

“On Saturday, he was taken for a test inside the hospital by me and Chowdhury around 12 pm. After the test, Chowdhury said he would take my father back to his ward and demanded Rs 50 for it. I agreed, and left the hospital with the pus sample for another test in Park Street,” he added.

He, however, found his father’s bed empty when he returned to the ward.

“Other patients told me that my father did not return after the test. When I asked Chowdhury, he admitted that he had left him on the ground floor of the hospital,” added Arvind.

The relatives searched the hospital premises, but could not find Rajak. “When we approached the police, they told us that the hospital authorities had already lodged a missing complaint at the Bhowanipore police station. They asked us to wait for 24 hours,” Deepak, another son of the patient said.