Transformer break down plunged all departments into darkness
A doctor checks a patient's injury using light from his smartphone as the emergency wing of the Osmania General Hospital went without power the whole day on Tuesday. (Photo: P Surendra/DC)
Hyderabad: Torches, candles and even smartphone lights were used at the Osma-nia General Hospital to treat patients since the 11-kilowatt transformer supplying power to the hospital broke down on May 5, plunging all the three wings into darkness.
The emergency wing, surgical and all other wards operated on candle light while in the Intensive Care Unit, turbo lights and inverters were used to keep the ventilators working.
Confusion continued for a while as the administration was not aware of what caused the power failure, but once identified, five back-up generators were brought in.
Despite this, the emergency wing had no power all of Tuesday and doctors used the lights from their smart phones to check patients. Those who had minor injuries were treated in the corridors where there was enough natural light.
Patients who required emergency care were shifted to other government hospitals as the CT Scan machines, ultra sound machines and other diagnostic services were not working.
Only a single operation theatre was working and six emergency surgeries were carried out, most of which were pending since Monday.
Confused patients were seen going from one block to another as there was no one to guide them as the Out Patients department was temporarily operating from the Old Wing.
Mr Ram Prasad, a native of Nizamabad said, “I have got a severe stomach ache but they are not admitting me because there is no power supply. The doctors gave some medicines and asked me to come after two days. I can’t do that hence I am waiting.”
The new block, with the super specialties, is not functional and the doctors have been asked to postpone all elective surgeries.
A senior doctor said, “There can be no elective treatments carried out till complete power is restored.”
Patients who were scheduled for surgery were admitted and when the generators stopped for half-an-hour they had to bear with the heat for 15 to 20 minutes.
The situation in the general ward was worse. Due to the darkness, most attendants were using candles to check on the patients.
Mr Altaf Yunus, an attendant explained, “The generator back-up is not sufficient. There are so many wards and only the ICU wards have proper power supply. It’s a pathetic situation. They must have better facilities in place as due to the heat, the patients are suffering. We have requested them to open the windows so that there can be fresh air.”
Senior nurse G.V. Shanti said, “Some patients are getting very irritable and are making too much of noise. We have been trying to calm them down. The rising temperature and the breakdown have added to our woes.”
Superintendent of Osmania General Hospital, Dr Raghu Ram, said, “The engineers are working to restore power. The breakdown in the transformer was due to load shedding and excessive heat. We are attending to all patients as the Out-Patient ward has seen the usual crowd of 1,600.”
( Source : dc )
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