Listen To This Post

Thenewsdose.com

Jalandhar, July 28,UPDATED:12.45PM

A  tragedy struck Jalandhar’s Civil Hospital on Monday evening when the oxygen supply to ventilator-supported patients was abruptly disrupted, leading to the death of three critically ill patients. Hospital authorities confirmed that the disruption occurred due to a “technical fault” in the hospital’s oxygen plant. Among the deceased were Archana, a snakebite victim who had been undergoing treatment for over 10 days; a young man admitted after a drug overdose; and a 35-year-old tuberculosis patient who had been battling severe lung complications.

Technical Glitch and Immediate Response

Medical Superintendent Dr. Raj Kumar Baddhan acknowledged the fault, stating, “Due to an oil leak in the oxygen plant, the supply was snapped for a brief period. The fault was rectified promptly, but unfortunately, three of the five patients on ventilator support could not survive. A nine-member committee has been constituted to probe the incident, and accountability will be fixed after the inquiry report, which I have sought by Tuesday.”

Sources within the hospital revealed that the oxygen supply system is equipped with an alarm that immediately alerts staff in the event of any disruption. “It is almost impossible to miss the alarm unless the response is abnormally delayed. Normally, minor faults are not fatal,” a senior hospital source said, hinting at possible lapses in response time.

Families Cry Foul

The incident has triggered outrage and grief among the families of the deceased. Shivam, the brother of Archana, recounted, “My sister was recovering well and had been under treatment for 10 days. Suddenly, we were told there was a technical fault and that her condition had worsened. Minutes later, they declared her dead. This shouldn’t have happened.” Similarly, Khushboo, the wife of the TB patient, said her husband had been admitted with a critical lung condition but was stable. “Around 7 pm, we were told about a technical issue in the hospital. Soon after, my husband passed away,” she said.

Probe and Accountability

Hospital authorities have pledged to investigate the chain of events that led to the tragedy. “The nine-member inquiry committee will determine the exact cause and recommend accountability measures. We are committed to ensuring this does not happen again,” Dr. Baddhan assured. This incident has raised critical questions about the preparedness of government hospitals in handling life-support systems and emergency contingencies.