PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, June 10: A three-hour-long power outage at the newly constructed hospital building of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Medical College at Dimna Road on Monday has raised serious concerns about the hospital’s infrastructure and administrative preparedness.
From 12 noon to 3 PM, the hospital was plunged into a state of chaos as the power supply was completely disrupted, leaving patients, doctors, and staff to suffer in the sweltering heat.
Single Feeder Dependency Exposes System Flaws
The outage, reportedly caused by a broken earthing wire, crippled essential services.
Elevators stopped functioning, fans and air conditioners shut down, and both OPD and inpatient wards turned into suffocating spaces with no ventilation.
The sudden breakdown exposed the hospital’s heavy reliance on a single feeder and the lack of a robust backup system.
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According to hospital authorities, the power failure was immediately reported to the electricity department. However, departmental personnel arrived only after three hours, by which time several patients’ conditions had worsened due to heat and humidity. The incident revealed significant lapses in communication and emergency response.
Hospital officials revealed that although Rs 5.5 crore had been deposited with the electricity department over 18 months ago for a permanent connection from the Dimna feeder, the connection is yet to be commissioned.
Currently, the hospital relies solely on power from the Baliguma feeder, which lacks the capacity and reliability to serve as the sole source for such a critical facility.
Emergency Services Struggle, Generator Use Limited
Originally, the hospital was designed to receive electricity from both Dimna and Baliguma feeders to ensure an uninterrupted supply. However, due to the delay in implementing this plan, the hospital remains vulnerable during technical disruptions.
MGM Hospital superintendent Dr. R.K. Mandhan acknowledged the presence of a generator on campus but pointed out that running it continuously requires significant financial resources. “We have submitted a proposal for operational funding to the department,” he said. Currently, only emergency services are being prioritized for power supply during outages.
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Public Outrage and Calls for Accountability
The power failure has sparked widespread public outrage. Local residents and public representatives have demanded immediate action and accountability from the electricity department.
Social activist Manoj Mishra stated, “It is a complete administrative failure if a hospital built at the cost of crores cannot function due to basic power issues. This negligence is putting lives at risk.”
The new MGM Hospital at Dimna, on the outskirts of steel city is meant to serve as a model healthcare facility for East Singhbhum and adjoining districts. However, Monday’s incident has raised serious doubts about its readiness and operational capacity.
A hospital that cannot guarantee uninterrupted electricity — one of the most fundamental requirements — can hardly be deemed a model institution.
This incident is not merely a technical fault; it is symptomatic of a deeper administrative failure.
Unless permanent power arrangements are made soon, such crises will continue to endanger lives and undermine public trust in essential health services.
