Jabalpur, Mar 8 (UNI) A counsellor, who was set ablaze by a patient at the local Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Medical College Hospital over a trivial issue on March 6, has been sent to New Delhi for treatment via air ambulance.

''On the instructions of the state government, counsellor Sanjay Shrivastav was sent to New Delhi in air ambulance called from there,'' Collector Sanjay Dube said.

Mr Dube said Mr Shrivastav is better. His treatment will be carried out in the Safdarjung Hospital.

He said Madhya Pradesh Public Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi had described the incident as unfortunate and directed that Mr Shrivastsav be sent to New Delhi.

Mr Vishnoi had relaxed rules for calling air ambulance and deposited Rs 4.5 lakh at New Delhi-based Apollo Hospital yesterday.

However, the air ambulance arrived today instead of last night, as landing facility is not available in the cantonment town.

Kaushal Kishore Jaiswal, who hails from Sidhi district's Sarra village, suspected that he was suffering from AIDS and targeted Sanjay Shrivastav during a counselling session.

Jaiswal fled but was apprehended while he was hiding on a hill near the college after toiling for nearly six hours.

UNI