Technologists in India had a quite a surprise when an MRI scanner at the Lohia Research Institute in Lucknow pulled a handgun away from a patient -- who happened to be a member of a state legislature.
According to a June 3 report in the Financial Express, the weapon belonged to Satyadev Pachauri, a politician from the state of Uttar Pradesh, who was at the hospital for an MRI scan. Pachauri allegedly ignored instructions and entered the MRI suite with the pistol, which was immediately attracted to the 3-tesla magnet.
The gun became lodged in the scanner and caused damage estimated at 25 lakh rupees ($41,000 U.S.). The hospital expects it will take one week to complete repairs.
The incident will also cause delays in handling the facility's average of 30 MRI scans per day, the article noted.
