Chennai floods: Survived on bread, rain water, says MIOT patient
Chennai rains results in 18 patient deaths at the MIOT hospital which was hit by a power failure
Grieving relatives of the people who lost their lives in the floods, at
the Government Hospital, Royapettah in Chennai on Friday. PTI Photo by R
Senthil Kumar
At the MIOT hospital in Chennai that witnessed the death of 18
patients due to power failure, a patient who survived in the Intensive
Care Unit (ICU) said she was given only 120 ml oats and a slice of bread
after the power went off. She added that the management abandoned them
on Tuesday night.Read full coverage of Chennai floods
Talking to The Indian Express, a relative of the patient who underwent a heart surgery last week, said they did not expect her loved one to survive after most of the doctors disappeared.
Shilpa, the relative who along with her husband, was taking care of her mother in law in the MIOT ICU were stranded since Tuesday night. Her mother-in-law, a leading human rights activist, did not want to reveal her identity as she fears that their relatives will panic. She is stable now and is being treated at another city hospital.
The activist said there was absolutely no help from the doctors or management.
Read | Sleepless in Chennai night, residents find home under flyovers, in flooded shelters
“They abandoned us in ICU. There was no power or even a candle light in the ICU. We spent three days in dark chambers. There were no monitors in ICU. There was no hot water for patients. Thank fully few nurses who wanted to help us ensured 120ml oats and a slice of bread,” she said adding that she will go on record on these once she could reach all her relatives. “I am stable now. They will panic if they come to know about this from media,” she said.
Shilpa said she managed to spend three days with few chocolate bars and rainwater. “We were on the third floor. We had to collect rain water with buckets and small dishes kept for toilet purpose. After the power went off early morning Tuesday, there was absolutely no doctor for the next 24 hours. There was no candle light too. Nurses were the only saviours when all the doctors disappeared, ” she said.
Chennai: A wailing relative of the people who lost their lives in the
floods, at the Government Hospital, Royapettah in Chennai on Friday.
Several patients admitted to MIOT Hospital lost their lives due to heavy
rainfall. (PTI Photo)
“When there was no power and doctors on Wednesday, Dr Baashi and team
had arrived on Thursday morning. Till then we had no clue about what
the hospital is doing. Even after Dr Baashi came, few nurses who reached
the hospital were asked to go back by the security men and authorities
saying that there were no patients inside. But they insisted that they
have to go inside and finally they were let in, ” Shilpa added.Read| Centre quick to grant relief to other states, but laid back when it comes to Northeast: Gogoi
Shilpa’s account becomes significant in the backdrop of relatives of many of the 18 patients who died in the hospital’s ventilator said the record shows that deaths occurred between 11.10pm and 11.30pm on Wednesday night. They added that the hospital did not inform the government or relatives about these deaths until Thursday evening. Most of the bodies which arrived at Royapettah government hospital were already decaying. Relatives and media personnel had to wear masks in the hospital compound in fear of health risks.
While none of the MIOT staff were seen at the Royapettah hospital on Friday or to console the relatives of the patients who died, they admitted to reporters later in the evening that there was a power failure that led to the tragedy. They said all patients were critically ill and that they tried to manually ventilate them too. A high level probe was ordered by the government.
State Chief Secretary K Gnanadesikan said the hospital is located in a low-lying area. “It’s responsibility of a big hospital like MIOT to have adequate power supply and power generator. The management had completely abandoned the patients. Law will take its own course.”
- I Indi.Nyorker IndiaThe hospital was constructed on marshland and so the hospital management alone cannot be held responsible for these deaths. How could the govt sanction a hospital to be constructed on marshland? Prevention is better than cure. Secondly, there was a similar incident which happened in the east coast of US less than 2 years back. Several people died at hospitals in New York as the generator set up was in the terrace and it was impossible to refuel the generators. That incident should have been an eye opener for unfortunately it was not to be..about an hour ago(0) · (0)reply (1)
- M Madhusudan United StatesGov people took bribes possibly, gave cuts to politicians possibly and the financial group behind this specific Hospital only saw the hospital as a commercial venture. I know this from my experience as a patient over there. They send you to multiple doctors for 'specialty consultations' and each doctor charges you a fee. Each doctor, I have been told, have to meet a quota of consultations. The quota is set by the hospital management. Do these people even know the meaning of HOSPITALITY? No! Once the flood situation has been stabilized, a SC-monitored CBI probe is needed in to MIOT affairs. Right from plan approval to every day functioning to what happened that caused the 18 poor souls to perish. And again, bar every one of those doctors for life, globally so they dont kill anyone else.27 minutes ago1680(0) · (0)reply (0)
- TA Tanbeer Alam India
thats whAT COMES FROM OUR PM WHO LEFT PEOPLE OF CHENNAI AND WENT TO PARIS SO HE CAN STAND WHEN NATIONAL ANTHEM SUNG BY SOME DVD AND SPEAK IN HINDI TO SHOW THAT THESE BHAKT ARE REAL RASTRABHAKTH OF BHARAT MATAabout 2 hours ago380
(0) · (0)- YP Yash Pal India
So you admit that the TN State Govt has totally failed. Also that it is the responsibility of the Centre to deal with such situations (especially the PM personally); the State Govt machinery is there only to collect 'hafta'. There was a press release by the PIB showing the PM inspecting the floods in Chennai and still you say that he "LEFT PEOPLE OF CHENNAI". I hope you are also aware that a truck carrying relief materials to Chennai from Bengaluru was stopped by AIADMK people, each item of materials was stuck with photo of 'Amma' and then allowed to proceed. Waste of precious time and trying to take credit where not due. It is well known that TN drama troupes masquerade as political parties but they can stoop to such low level cannot be imagined. BY the way, I am no Modi sympathiser but do not twist facts.43 minutes ago950
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- TA Tanbeer Alam India
this is india coz people only wanted other to stand on national anthem and sing jana gana and vandematram and feel patriotism is what look like this.when really need to show some rastra bhakthi they are just leave like that and sit at home and sing vande matram.about 2 hours ago380
(1) · (0) - L Lalitha India
The Health care people did not give importance for the life of people. Their profession is to save life and get their life for a carrier. Why do these big shot commercially business people should run hospital. For running a hospital, it needs HEART for service. These idiots can close their hospital and can leave it for people who have TRUE HEART. Service to mankind is service to GOD. These idiots forget the basic principles. Some one should come to save Chennai.about 3 hours ago105
(0) · (0) - S Senthil United States
The worst thing is people will forget all these and will vote for the same corrupt politicians again for a bottle of tasmac and a briyani.about 3 hours ago125
(2) · (0)- r raju India
That they are voting for corrupt politicians since 1967....because there are no non-corrupt party and politicians in TN...when u defeat people like C.SUbramanyam and kamaraj u deserve this..about 2 hours ago
(0) · (1)- M Madhusudan United States
I know few honest politicians in TN. But they never stand a chance with the materialistic irrational electorate of TN who worship cult personalities rather than vote for policies and accountability.19 minutes ago1680
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- YP Yash Pal India
How right you are. We need to educate the people that both the Dravidian parties are fooling them. They are sticking to a totally discredited (and with no evidence) theory of Aryan (supposed to be N Indians) vs Dravidians (supposed to be S Indians) and milking them for votes. Intention of these parties is to perpetuate their rule and keep the general public in thrall.14 minutes ago950
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- S Senthil
I had a worst experience last year when my dad was admitted for a surgery. Rude and arrogant staff.Money oriented and no service at all. This is a highly profitable business and can't be run with out the support of the government officials and politicians. Tamil Nadu people are cursed .They have to undergo all these because of their bad choice of electing stupid and corrupt politicians for the last 50 years. Maybe they deserve it or they have no choice.about 3 hours ago125
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