New Delhi: The government of the Indian province of Odisha dismissed 408 doctors on Friday for their absence from duty without required permission of the authorities concerned.

The government initiated disciplinary proceedings against the doctors on recommendation of the state health department.

However, only four doctors could escape the dismissal as they turned up and explained causes of their absence.

This is the first time that the Odisha Public Service Commission, which had recruited these doctors, gave its consent to the sacking.