Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Friday directed MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar to initiate an inquiry into the death of an infant at the municipal corporation-run Kasturba Hospital in Old Delhi, which was reportedly caused by power backup failure during a planned shutdown. “A media report suggests that an infant unfortunately died due to non-availability of power backup during a planned shutdown at Kasturba Hospital on August 22,” the order issued to the commissioner said.
Oberoi further said in the order, “You are requested to immediately initiate investigation to get to the root of the matter and identify the cause of this unfortunate incident so that we can initiate action accordingly.”
Let us tell you that this incident came to light when many social media users claimed that there was a power outage in Kasturba Hospital for some time on Thursday, during which two newborn babies were allegedly born in the light of a torch. During this, one newborn died.
Denying the allegations that deliveries were conducted in torchlight, the MCD said, “Electricity supply was available in the hospital OT. A total of three deliveries took place at Kasturba Hospital, out of which two took place in broad daylight and one in the evening, by which time power supply was restored in the hospital. The corporation denies the fact that deliveries took place in torchlight.”
On the baby’s death, the municipal corporation said, “After delivery, the baby was not breathing, so he was put on ventilator in the NICU and his parents were being informed about his health condition. The power backup of the NICU ventilator was working continuously. Unfortunately, after being on ventilator for five days, the baby died due to illness.”
According to an official, the MCD issued a circular on August 21 informing about the plan to cut power supply to the hospital from 1 pm to 4 pm and asked all departments to make necessary arrangements.
MCD had said this in the official statement
Giving an official statement, MCD’s press and information director Amit Kumar said, “Power backup was available in the hospital’s OT. A total of three deliveries took place at Kasturba Gandhi Hospital, out of which two took place in daylight and one in the evening. By then, power supply had been restored in the hospital. The corporation denies that the delivery took place in the so-called torchlight. As far as the news of the baby’s death is concerned, it is reported that he was not breathing after delivery. Therefore, he was kept on a ventilator in the NICU and his parents were being informed about his health condition. The power backup of the NICU ventilator was working properly. Unfortunately, after being on the ventilator for five days, the baby died due to illness.