Patna: Junior doctors of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) went on a strike on Thursday morning in support of their Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) counterparts who are on strike since Wednesday against an assault on them by a patient's attendants.

The strike collapsed the functioning of PMCH and several outdoor patients were seen returning without treatment. Several patients had to be admitted to private hospitals. On Thursday, again a patient's attendants assaulted a guard deployed at the emergency gate of the PMCH.

PMCH superintendent Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said: "We are alert. There was no casualty owing to the strike. Chief casualty officer Abhijeet Singh and health manager Alok Ranjan are supervising everything. Senior doctors have been deputed at all the departments."

The superintendent said they were trying to end the strike as early as possible. "The civil surgeon has sent 17 doctors though we had asked for 40. The medical store at the PMCH, however, remained open for 24 hours," he said.

Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) superintendent Chandra Shekhar said health principal secretary and city superintendent of police visited NMCH and had a discussion with the junior doctors. "The doctors assured them of ending the strike," he said.

Vaishvi Kumari, 7, a resident of Dhanarua in Patna rural, died on Friday because she couldn't be treated at the NMCH. She was brought to the hospital after a snake bite. Vaishnavi's father Vinod Malakar said: "My daughter died because of the strike. She couldn't get treatment on time."

The NMCH superintendent said a slew of measures have been taken to ensure safety and security to the doctors and employees of the hospital. Barricades have been erected at different points followed by replacement of non-functional CCTVs and armed security personnel have been deputed on the premises.

The superintendent said talks were on with the doctors to arrive at an amicable solution and call off the agitation. A temporary police outpost has been set up on the campus to keep vigil on the visitors round the clock. The office-bearers of the NMCH unit of the Junior Doctors' Association, including president Ravi Ranjan Kumar, said a few of the demands have been heeded to by the authorities. "Talks are on to reach to an agreement," Ranjan said over the phone.

The president of the PMCH Junior Doctors' Association, Shankar Bharti, said: "We have extended full cooperation to our colleagues in NMCH," he added.