Power failure in government hospital during dialysis takes lives of three patients

New Delhi: A sudden power failure at a government hospital in Puducherry claimed the lives of three patients, while they were undergoing a dialysis procedure. Unfortunately, the incident took place on World Kidney Day.

All three patients belonged to poverty-stricken families.

A probe has been ordered and six staffers of the Nephrology Department of the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute Hospital have been suspended in connection with the incident that left a man and two women dead.

Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao, who rushed to the hospital after coming to know of the tragedy, announced an ex gratia relief of Rs five lakh each to the families of the three patients.

Health and Family Welfare Services Director Dr K V Raman told PTI that sudden "breakdown in power supply" resulted in the three patients collapsing at the free-of-cost dialysis unit where new equipment were recently installed.

He said 75-year old Sushila and 55-year old Amsa died immediately after the power supply broke down while Ganesan, 52 passed away in the Intensive Care Unit a bit later.

Raman said a three-member committee comprising two nephrologists from other hospitals and the executive engineer of the Puducherry Electricity Department has been constituted to hold an enquiry and find out what went wrong.

He said six staffers of the Department of Nephrology were placed under suspension as an immediate departmental action. Further enquiry is on, he added.

(With PTI inputs)