Gensets keep hospitals running through stormy night

Srinagar, Jan 23: Hospitals in Srinagar and other districts of Kashmir witnessed a chaotic night with high speed gusty winds and heavy snowfall, disrupting power supply as well as access for patients and replacement staff.

On Friday, electricity was restored, while roads leading to hospitals were also cleared on priority.

However, in hard-to-reach mountainous regions in Kupwara, Kulgam, Shopian, and other districts, many people could not access healthcare services.

Videos of patients, especially pregnant women in need of emergency medical attention, being carried on cots through snow-laden paths were uploaded by netizens.

The videos depicted the stories of helplessness through heavy snowfall and help being provided by ambulance service, Police, and Army.

Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) from various districts said the district administration officials had prioritised the clearing of roads leading to hospitals.

They said major roads had been cleared; however, slippery conditions made travel for patients difficult.

As a result, the hospitals recorded fewer outpatient numbers.

On Thursday evening, high-speed winds shattered the panes of hospitals.

Simultaneously, power was also snapped across Kashmir.

This resulted in momentary panic among patients.

However, diesel generator sets were put to use for running oxygen supply as well as Operation Theatres in hospitals.

Administrator and spokesperson of GMC Srinagar, Mohammed Ashraf Hakak, told Greater Kashmir that Lal Ded Hospital, Children Hospital, and all other GMC Hospitals were ìrunning normalî.

He said the disruption of the power supply was addressed, and the generator supplied electricity was used to keep all the critical areas running.

Hakak said all the broken windows were also repaired in the morning to prevent loss of heat in the wards.

ìIn view of the weather and wind, we also extended heating hours in hospitals to keep patients and attendants comfortable,î he said.

Hakak said emergency areas of hospitals also recorded less attendance of patients from peripheral areas, while patients from nearby areas had no effect on their access.

At Lal Ded Hospital, many emergency delivery cases were received after being referred from district hospitals.