Medical services were hit on Monday in state-run hospitals and health centres in East Singhbhum as doctors struck work to protest against the abduction of their colleague in Gumla, the strike turning into shock when news of his murder trickled in by afternoon.

The only exception was Sakchi-based MGM Medical College and Hospital, which functioned normally. Though a state-run health centre, it technically falls under the ambit of a medical college.

Since morning, before the news of Dr Ram Bachan Choudhary's murder came from Gumla, outpatients departments at Sadar Hospital in Khasmahal and nine community health centres and 18 primary health centres across East Singhbhum had worn a deserted look.

Doctors were striking work to mount pressure on the police for Choudhary's "safe rescue". By afternoon, Choudhary's body was found in a Gumla forest, throwing the medical fraternity into gloom.

Sahir Pall, East Singhbhum district secretary of Jharkhand State Health Services Association (JSHSA) and integrated diseases surveillance programme (IDSP) officer of the district, said barring emergency services and post-mortems, health services stayed badly affected.

"We obeyed the fiat taken by our state outfit and abstained from work as a mark of protest against increasing lawlessness in a state where doctors are unsafe," Pall said.

Indian Medical Association (Jamshedpur) secretary Mrityunjay Singh expressed shock and dismay over Dr Ram Bachan Choudhary's murder. "We are shocked. Our condolences go out to bereaved family members," he said.

For poor patients, though, the day was wasted.

Venu Mukhi (40), a resident of Bhalubhasa suffering from a thyroid complaint, waited in vain for hours for a doctor at Sadar Hospital.