SSH without UPS back-up
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A major tragedy was averted on Sunday when 217 battery panel of the so-called Super Specialty Hospital, (SSH) Jammu blew off with a big bang, leaving patients and attendants run for their lives due to panic.
The patients admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and other wards of Gastroenteritis, Neuro Surgery and Nephrology Departments had a tough time to grapple with the situation as no senior doctor from the management was available due to holiday.
The explosion could have taken its toll had it been a working day as the attendants and the hospital staff mostly use the staircase leading 4 to 5 feet away from the panel towards main entry to the Hospital Administration Block.
Panicked patients and attendants rushed outside the hospital building for safety while the fire tenders were summoned to extinguish the fire. Till late night only emergency lights were operating in the Super Specialty Hospital.
An eye witness told STATE TIMES that the batteries started exploding one by one due to short circuit. Smoke spread in the entire ‘A’ block of the hospital which houses the ICU and other wards.
The electricity went off in the entire hospital putting the life of critical patients in danger as most of the electronic gadgets went off.
Late in the evening the electricity was restored in B and C Blocks.
Sources said that the Engineering Wing of the Hospital had suggested the government about the replacement of batteries as most of them were partly damaged. Every year, the batteries require maintenance but for the past four years, this aspect has not been taken care of.
The members of the Medical Teachers Association said that the Minister for Health and Medical Education is wasting the hospital funds for purchasing unnecessary gadgets. “But funds for the replacement of batteries were never sanctioned,” they opined.
In two panels 115 and 102 batteries are installed in power bank which supports the operation theaters and ICU in case of power failure. Both have been completely damaged in fire. And to top it all, the hospital is lacking the UPS power back up facility.
Dr Romesh Gupta, Medical Superintendent, who was on leave till 22nd November, had to rush to the hospital to control the situation.
“A total of 17 patients, including one who was on ventilator in ICU, were shifted to the GMC Hospital,” Dr Gupta said
The UPS system of the SSH has gone out of order and it needs replacement. The Engineering Wing is preparing the assessment of losses, he added.
It has been learnt that four ACs and electric wiring of the stores have been completely burnt but swift action by the fire tenders controlled the fire from further spreading.
A senior doctor on the condition of anonymity said that the mismanagement and unnecessary interference of the minister concerned has ruined the prestigious hospital which caters the patients hailing from entire Jammu province.
