The victims, mostly from the BPL families, made a representation to the Padra mamlatdar on Thursday.

The camp was organised by the Jalaram Seva Trust of Bodeli where the surgery was performed free of cost.

“Around 10 people approached (me) yesterday with a memorandum. I have accepted it. Since the matter doesn’t come under my purview, I will send it to the district collector, who in turn will take action,” said Padra MamlatdarAnshu Srivastava.

She said the matter was under investigations and therefore it was too early to comment on it.

Vadodara district officials, meanwhile, said that prima-facie it looks that the eye in which the operation was performed, developed infection, resulting in loss of vision. The district collectorate has, nevertheless, directed the regional deputy director, health, to investigate the matter.

Vadodara Collector Vijay Nehra said: “Three persons had complained of vision problems and infections arising out of the cataract operation, which was conducted by the trust in a private facility. The Health department will look into it.” Nehra added that as the camp was organised somewhere in Rajpipla and it was not a government facility, the regional deputy director would inquire into it.

State Health Commissioner Amarjit Singh, meanwhile, said he was not aware of the case. “I will be able to tell you only when I get the report (from the health department),” he said.

Despite repeated attempts, officials of the Trust could not be contacted. Over 50 people from BPL category from various villages in Padra had gone for the free cataract surgery at the camp.

The total number of cataract operations being performed in Gujarat every year is more than six lakh.