A surgery at Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, Punjab, was temporarily halted due to ongoing power cuts, including a failure of the emergency lights in the operating room. A viral video from the hospital shows doctors and staff standing around the patient, waiting for the power to be restored as medical equipment was disrupted.
Shocking ‼️ Reality of Health & Electricity in Punjab.
This video is from Govt Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, where electricity failed during an ongoing surgical procedure. Doctors recorded this video to reveal the truth about the situation.
Rajindra Hospital is the largest… pic.twitter.com/ksjA4fMV9Y— Manik Goyal (@ManikGoyal_) January 24, 2025
The video, filmed by one of the doctors, highlights concerns about the patient’s safety and the potential risks of the power outage.
Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh responded by stating that the hospital’s backup power systems were working properly and that the doctor had overreacted by recording the video. He also reminded hospital staff to focus on patient care at all times.
In the 56-second clip, the doctor is heard saying that power outages are a frequent issue at the hospital. While the exact timing of the incident couldn’t be confirmed, the doctor expresses concern, saying, “It’s been 15 minutes since the power went out. The ventilator is down too. If anything happens to the patient, who’s going to take responsibility? The doctors? All the staff are just standing here, and the ventilator has turned off.”
Sources mentioned that power disruptions are common at the hospital, despite having three backup power systems in place.