Even as the World Kidney Day was being observed across the globe on Thursday, a tragedy unfolded in Puducherry: Three patients, including two women, who were undergoing haemodialysis at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute (IGMCRI), Kathirkamam, died after power was restored following an outage.
“There was a power outage at 11 a.m. Only these three machines were running with back-up. However, the patients developed complications after the supply was resumed within 15 minutes of the outage. Though doctors rushed to their aid, they could not revive the patients,” said Medical Superintendent (in charge) Bupathy A.
A medical officer said that after the power was restored, the patients started vomiting, their muscles became stiff and two patients died instantly, while one patient died in the ICU.
Doctors identified the deceased as Amsa (58), Suseela (75), and Ganesan (55).
Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao said a doctor, two nurses and three trainee technicians had been suspended. A panel, comprising two nephrologists from the government hospital and Jipmer, and an executive engineer, has been constituted to conduct an enquiry. The government has announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the kin of the deceased.
