Six-Hour Power Outage Disrupts Services at Hathras District Hospital

Power supply at the district hospital in Hathras remained disrupted for about six hours on Monday after a fault developed in an electricity line. The outage lasted from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., affecting services across the hospital and causing patients to wait for hours.

Darkness was reported in the outpatient department (OPD), the general ward and the blood bank. Investigations and medical examinations were also affected. Several patients could not undergo their tests and had to return without getting them done.

The power failure caused difficulties even though the OPD was operating for only half a day because of the Monday holiday. Patients who had come to the hospital for treatment, tests and medical examinations faced delays as the electricity supply remained unavailable.

The generator installed at the hospital also could not provide complete relief. Hospital arrangements remained affected because the generator stayed switched off for a considerable period.

Sanjay, a resident of village Paikwada, had reached the district hospital with his child for treatment and tests. He said he had been told that the child had an infection and that he had come to get the required tests done.

However, because there was no electricity, Sanjay said he was asked to return the next day. The power outage therefore prevented the child’s tests from being carried out during the hospital visit.

Radheshyam, who was admitted to the general ward, said there had been no electricity since about 8 a.m. He said the heat caused him considerable difficulty while the power supply remained disrupted.

A medical examination was also delayed in a case related to a fight in the Hathras Junction Kotwali area. Rajkumar had brought his nephew Himanshu to the emergency department of the district hospital for the examination.

Rajkumar said he reached the hospital with Himanshu at about 11 a.m. on Monday. However, the medical examination had not been completed even by 3 p.m. Doctors told him that the delay was due to the disruption in electricity supply.

Rajkumar said he had been waiting for several hours for the medical examination, but his work could not be completed. Other people brought to the hospital by the police for medical examinations also faced difficulties, and their examinations could not be completed on time.

Electricity department informed

Dr. Surya Prakash, the district hospital’s Chief Medical Superintendent, said the concerned department had been informed about the fault in the electricity line.

He said the hospital’s power arrangements were kept operational through the generator. However, patients and attendants reported that the prolonged disruption and the generator’s delayed operation affected OPD services, investigations, the general ward, the blood bank and medical examinations.