5 dead in Kanpur hospital ICU, kin allege AC failure
KANPUR: Five patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the medicine department of LLR Hospital, one of the seven associate hospitals of GSVM Medical College, died in the past 24 hours allegedly due to non-functioning of air-conditioners.
While the medical college refused to acknowledge the deaths due to failed air-conditioning, people moved their patients to other hospitals, calling the air in certain parts of the ICU unbreathable.
The state government has set up a four-member committee to investigate and submit a report within 24 hours. “The team consists of a nominee of the government, an administrative officer, one electronical engineer and a senior doctor,” said district magistrate Surendra Singh, adding the committee would inquire if the deaths were caused due to non-functioning of ACS or due to failure in life support systems.
“It seems this unfortunate incident occurred due to carelessness of the company having the maintenance contract of the air-conditioning plant,” he said.
Singh visited the hospital and met 10 patients admitted in the ICU where two portable air conditioners have now been placed and six more are on way. “All the doors and several windows had to be opened, it was so hot and humid,” said Shiv Kumar, whose son is admitted on bed 4 of the ICU. Senior authorities, including ADM city, who found the windows open, got them closed fearing infection.
ICU in-charge Saurabh Agrawal said five patients, including Rasool Baksh of Sadila Hardoi, Gaya Prasad Yadav of Buddhikheda, Unnao, Murari Lal of Azamgarh and Indrapal of Narwal Kanpur died in the ICU during the period.
The hospital staff, unwilling to be named, said the air conditioners were not working for the past five days and the matron had given in writing to the authorities about the issue and sought immediate repair.
Principal of GSVM medical college Dr Navneet Kumar denied that patients died due to AC failure. He said patients were “critically ill and died”. “The deaths were not related to failure of AC plants. Life support systems were not affected by failure of the AC plant,” he added.