'14 patients didn't die in hospital due to power cut'

The Tamil Nadu government on Friday categorically denied that 14 patients died at MIOT Hospital located near here due to lack of power.

In a statement issued here, Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan said on Thursday, distress calls from the 1,000 bedded hospital were received for oxygen and personnel for evacuation of patients in view of severe flooding and lack of electricity.

The health department officials rushed some oxygen cylinders from the Government Hospital to MIOT Hospital.

Radhakrishnan said he and Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar had visited MIOT Hospital as the latter had requested boats for evacuation on Thursday.

Instead of shifting the patients using the boats, Radhakrishnan said seven ambulances were organised for the purpose.

Radhakrishnan said he had noticed 14 bodies of patients who died due to medical reasons during last few days kept in MIOT Hospital's mortuary.

According to the private hospital, the 14 bodies were not taken by the relatives due to the floods.

As the grid power was switched off due to floods and MIOT Hospital not having a back up power for its generators, the dead bodies would be a health hazard.

"On a written requisition of the MIOT hospital authorities, the bodies were removed to Government Royapettah Hospital mortuary for safe custody," Radhakrishnan said.

Meanwhile, around 140 in-patients were transported to other hospitals and 70 in-patients are left in MIOT Hospital as on Friday, Radhakrishnan said.

According to Radhakrishnan, the authorities at the MIOT Hospital had stated that they are in a position to maintain one floor of the hospital and care for the patients.

"Today (Friday) the state government has also provided a 250 KVa generator for the benefit of the 70 in-patients who are still in the hospital," he added.

On the other hand, Prithivi Mohandas, managing director, MIOT Hospital told reporters that lights and equipment did not work and everything has to be done manually due to the power cut.