Puri, Odisha : A shocking incident unfolded at the Puri District Headquarters Hospital on Wednesday evening when a sudden power outage left the emergency department in complete darkness forcing doctors to examine patients and write prescriptions under mobile torchlights.
The power went out around 5. 15 PM, just as a long queue of patients from children to the elderly had formed outside the Casualty Department. Despite the critical need for uninterrupted services in such a facility, no backup power supply kicked in.
Eyewitnesses reported that doctors did not halt treatment. Instead, they relied on their mobile phone flashlights and continued writing prescriptions in the dim, flickering light. Hospital staff and some patients’ attendants also turned on their mobile torches to assist.
While the doctors upheld their duties commendably, the incident raises serious concerns over the hospital’s infrastructure and preparedness. For nearly 10 minutes, there was no electricity, leaving patients, their families, and hospital staff in a state of confusion and discomfort.
The key question remains: Why was there no backup system in place? Was there no functioning generator or inverter in a major district hospital?
This alarming lapse has once again put the spotlight on the fragile state of Odisha’s public healthcare system. Had there been a life-threatening emergency or a critical surgery underway, the consequences could have been catastrophic.
The blackout in such a crucial department reflects administrative negligence and underlines the urgent need for reliable emergency infrastructure. The hospital authorities must take immediate corrective action to prevent a recurrence and ensure that patient care is never compromised due to avoidable failures.
