Relatives of hundreds of patients who had come to the outpatient department of Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital on Friday blocked a road in front of the hospital for half an hour after finding the OPD closed because of the cease-work by junior doctors.

Another roadblock was put up in front of the College of Medicine and Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Hospital in Kalyani, Nadia, by agitated relatives of patients.

The protesters alleged that they had come from far-flung areas of Bankura as well as neighbouring districts to consult doctors at the OPD.

“I have come from Purulia with my wife, who has gynaecological problems. I arrived early this morning to stand in the queue but hospital staff told me that the OPD was closed and no tickets would be issued,” said Bidhan Gorai of Hura in Purulia.

Sources said the hospital authorities tried to open the OPD in the morning but had to backtrack after junior doctors sitting on a dharna protested.

“They are doctors and their job is to treat patients and save their lives. What they are doing in the name of agitation is not right. We are helpless patients,” said a protester.

The blockade in front of the Bankura hospital was withdrawn around 11pm after the police pacified the protesters.

Gautam Narayan Sarkar, the medical superintendent, said the emergency ward was functioning with the help of senior doctors.

In Kalyani, relatives of patients blocked an arterial road in front of JNM Hospital for about an hour after finding the OPD closed. The hospital authorities eventually opened the OPD and deployed senior doctors.

The medical superintendent of the Kalyani hospital, Avijit Mukherjee, said: “The doctors mostly examined serious patients. We tried our best to provide service with our limited resources.”