3 Covid patients die during power disruption at Chandigarh's GMCH

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, May 30

The death of three Covid patients during a disruption in the electricity supply at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, led to a panic situation with attendants blaming the hospital authorities for the deaths.

The hospital authorities enquired about the disruption of electricity supply and management of Covid patients admitted to the GMCH and the South Campus, Sector 48, during this period and found no link between the power failure and the deaths that occurred in the Covid ICU.

In a clarification issued by the hospital, there were a total of 116 patients on oxygen and 38 patients in four Covid ICUs at the GMCH on Saturday night. The electricity supply got disrupted around 10.30 pm after which the JE (Electricity) was immediately contacted by the Medical Superintendent to ensure that the electricity supply to all critical areas was maintained. The hospital said at that time, electricity generator sets were already switched on and electricity was being provided to all critical areas, including the ICUs, on both campuses. Dr Sanjeev Palta, looking after the ICUs, confirmed it.

Dr Palta called three additional consultants and 10 anaesthesia residents to deal with any eventuality. Once the thunderstorm settled down, Dr Palta reached the hospital (around 11.45 pm) and assessed the situation in all Covid areas, especially the ICUs. “All ventilators connected to Covid patients were functional. However, four critically ill patients died in two different Covid ICUs during night at different times — 12.20 am, 1.15 am, 1.30 am and at 2.00 am — whereas the electricity supply through the generator sets was restored around 10.30 pm. Ventilators were functional in the case of all four patients. Attendants were aware of the clinical condition of these patients,” read hospital statement. The hospital has clarified that generators installed on both campuses automatically switch on in case of electricity disruption. The ventilators installed in three ICUs supplied through the PM CARES Fund have a battery back-up of 30 minutes. To deal with any further unforeseen circumstances in Covid ICUs, a High Dependency Unit in C Block with 12 ventilator beds has been vacated and prepared for receiving these patients, if required.