‘Power outage’ at Rajindra Hospital sparks controversy

The surfacing of an alleged power outage video in the maternity ward of Rajindra Hospital has drawn sharp political reactions, with Opposition party leaders targeting the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regime and its “much-publicised” health model.

Medical Superintendent (MS) of the hospital Dr Girish Sahni has, meanwhile, termed the allegations of power outage as baseless. He said the supply was snapped for less than a minute due to routine preventive maintenance work to check the functioning of wires, fans, air-conditioners ahead of the long and hot summer season as high voltage is feared to cause short-circuits.

He said he had cross-checked the matter and the SDO (Electrical) denied the allegation of power outage.

BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and former Health Minister and Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu were quick to react to the controversy.

Bittu said, “The power outage in the maternity ward, including the operation theatre, of Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, is far more than just a technical glitch. It exposes a troubling level of negligence and indifference on part of the Punjab Government. Cutting off electricity in such a vital medical facility is not indicative of a state on the path to progress. It’s rather a stark symptom of administrative failure. The people of Punjab deserve far better than this reckless and irresponsible governance.”

Sidhu said, “A power outage in the maternity ward of Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, is an example of deteriorating state of Punjab’s healthcare under the AAP regime. This is not an isolated incident. It is yet another failure of the AAP’s much-hyped health model.”

In the 22-second video, the attendants of the patients, a majority of them small children, can be seen using plastic files as hand fans. The cries of children can also be heard in the video clip. It is not yet known who recorded and uploaded the video clip. An attendant said the power outage continued for 15-20 minutes.

Punjab