A sudden power outage, believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, left patients and their attendants in a state of panic at Chennai’s Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital in Guindy late Saturday night.
However, Tamil Nadu’s Additional Chief Secretary for Health, Supriya Sahu, confirmed that the power supply was swiftly restored.
Sahu explained that a fire in the hospital’s main cable had disrupted the power supply, also affecting the generator. “The generator supply cable was also impacted. But immediately, we ensured power supply to 419 patients including 15 on ventillator support, through a separate generator. As a result, these patients were not affected,” she said.
Sahu mentioned that the Chief Engineer from the Public Works Department, along with other officials, ensured that power was restored through a high-tension (HT) cable. She added that work was ongoing to repair the generator.
“Our priority now is to make sure that the patients on ventillator support and critical care are not affected. We spoke to their attendants and gave an assurance. Main hospital supply has been restored now and there’s no need to panic,” Sahu told reporters at the hospital, PTI reported.
State Health Minister Ma Subramanian also visited the hospital to oversee the situation firsthand.
This incident comes on the heels of two major controversies involving the hospital: a senior oncologist being stabbed by a patient’s relative on November 13 and protests over medical negligence after a patient’s death.
Sahu noted that the cause of the power disruption is still being investigated, with the possibility of water seeping into the cables or a short circuit being considered.
State Health Minister Ma Subramanian also visited the hospital to oversee the situation firsthand.
This incident comes on the heels of two major controversies involving the hospital: a senior oncologist being stabbed by a patient’s relative on November 13 and protests over medical negligence after a patient’s death.
Sahu noted that the cause of the power disruption is still being investigated, with the possibility of water seeping into the cables or a short circuit being considered. “We restored power within an hour and made sure that all patients, especially those in critical care, were closely monitored,” she said.