Patna, Nov 10 - More than 400 junior doctors of the Patna Medical College and Hospital here have struck work, demanding payment of the increased stipend they were promised after a round of agitations in August.

The doctors, who went on an indefinite strike late Monday, said the Bihar government has failed to pay them the increased stipend as promised.

"In August after an assurance from the Bihar government of a hike in stipend, we withdrew our five-day-long strike. But we were not paid," a striking doctor said.

An official Tuesday said the state government has asked the striking doctors to return to work or face action.

When the doctors struck work in August, over two dozen patients lost their lives in five days. This time also the strike is likely to hit the poor patients who use government-run hospitals.

"The emergency ward was badly hit by the strike and some patients shifted to private clinics for treatment," an official of the hospital told IANS.

The official said the strike will also hit outdoor and surgery services of the hospital.  (IANS)