Berhampur, Sept. 16: A goof-up in a family planning operation has left doctors red-faced.

Tulsi Sabar, a resident of Subarnapur village under Govindpur panchayat in Ganjam district, about 50km from here, had undergone tubectomy operation at Pudamari primary health centre on Monday evening. Later at midnight, her condition deteriorated and she had to be shifted to Adapada community health centre. It was found that she suffered a cut in her intestine during the operation.

Joint director Dr Sukanti Mishra, however, dismissed it as a common incident.

"Minor injury to the intestine during the operation is very common. We perform it by pushing the intestine, and therefore, there is every possibility of an injury," said Dr Mishra.

He said the health condition of the patient was stable. "Tulsi is now under medical observation and is being administered saline injection. She will be kept in the centre for another seven days till she fully recovers. The patient has suffered a minor cut in her intestine during the tubectomy operation," he said.

Medical officer of the Adapada community health centre Pradip Kumar Mishra and medical officer of the Dengaosta public health centre Kishore Chandra Behera had jointly conducted the operation on 22 women, including Tulsi.

Tulsi's husband Nirakar Sabar said: "The operation was conducted on September 14 evening. But, the health condition of my wife deteriorated at midnight. She was immediately shifted to Adapada centre and I don't know what to do now."