Protest erupts in Kerala hospital after 3-hour power outage, probe ordered

After complaints of a power outage in Thiruvananthapuram's Sree Avittam Thirunal Hospital (SAT) Hospital, Kerala's Health Minister Veena George said a comprehensive technical committee would carry out a probe into the power outage reported in one of the blocks in the hospital.

In Short

• Emergency support sought to restore power supply
• Health Minister Veena George ordered a probe into the power outage
• Police force deployed after protests at Sree Avittam Thirunal Hospital

Family members of patients admitted in the state-run Sree Avittam Thirunal Hospital (SAT) Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram protested outside the gate as some blocks in the facility faced a power outage for nearly three hours on Sunday night.

The hospital, located on the Government Medical College campus, witnessed heated arguments between the family members of the patients and hospital authorities.

Taking cognisance of the matter, Health Minister Veena George said a comprehensive technical committee will carry out a probe into the power outage reported in one of the blocks in the hospital.

When the incident was brought to her notice, George also sought the emergency support of the power minister and the electrical wing of the Public Works Department (PWD) to restore the power supply.

As the tension escalated, more police personnel were deployed on the hospital campus. The power supply was restored after nearly three hours.

SAT hospital is a tertiary care institute, the maternal and child health wing of the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram.

As the protest mounted, the Kerala Electricity Board Limited (KSEB) claimed that the power outage was not because of any fault on their side.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly VD Satheesan criticised the government over the issue and accused the Health Department of not paying heed to the matter.

The power supply was interrupted for over three hours and it was restored temporarily after intense protests staged by patients and their family members, he said.

He also criticised the authorities for not shifting pregnant women and newborn babies, admitted there in critical condition, to other hospitals.

In a statement, the LoP also demanded a comprehensive probe into the incident.