Inquiry Ordered into Newborn's Death at Delhi's Kasturba Hospital

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi has instructed MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar to investigate the death of an infant at Kasturba Hospital in Old Delhi. The incident allegedly occurred due to a power backup failure during a scheduled shutdown. A media report highlighted that the infant died on August 22 because of the lack of power backup.

Power Outage Claims

Social media users claimed that on Thursday, there was a power outage at Kasturba Hospital. They alleged that two newborns were delivered under torchlight during this period, and one of them died. However, the MCD denied these allegations, stating that power backup was available in the operating theatre.

The MCD clarified, "A total of three deliveries took place in Kasturba Hospital. Two occurred in daylight, and one in the evening when power had been restored." The corporation firmly denied that any deliveries happened under torchlight.

Infant's Health Condition

Regarding the infant's death, the civic body explained, "After delivery, the infant was not breathing and was placed on a ventilator in the NICU. The parents were informed about his health condition." They added that the ventilators' power backup in the NICU was functioning continuously.

The infant remained on the ventilator for five days before succumbing to his illness. The MCD stated that the child's death was due to his medical condition rather than a power failure.

Official Circular and Inquiry

An official mentioned that on August 21, the MCD issued a circular about a planned power cut at Kasturba Hospital from 1 pm to 4 pm. The circular instructed all departments to make necessary arrangements for this shutdown.

Mayor Oberoi's order emphasized the need for an immediate inquiry to understand the cause of this unfortunate incident. She stated, "You are requested to immediately set up an inquiry to get to the root of the matter and identify the cause of this most unfortunate incident so that we can initiate action accordingly."

The investigation aims to determine whether any lapses occurred during the planned power cut and ensure accountability for any failures. This step is crucial to prevent similar incidents in the future and maintain trust in civic healthcare services.

The incident has sparked significant concern among citizens and officials alike. Ensuring reliable power backup systems in hospitals is essential for patient safety and care quality.