Dumraon govt hospital manager suspended after power outage probe

Buxar: District magistrate Sahila on Wednesday suspended the acting hospital manager of Dumraon sub-divisional hospital for dereliction of duty and ordered a departmental inquiry against the acting deputy superintendent after a probe into a power outage that disrupted oxygen supply in the Mother and Newborn Care Unit (MNCU). Explanations have also been sought from the district programme manager (health) and the civil surgeon.

The action followed a social media post alleging that doctors were forced to treat a newborn under a tree near the hospital during a power failure. Acting on the DM’s directions, Dumraon SDPO Rakesh Kumar inspected the facility on Tuesday and submitted a report.

According to the inquiry, hospital officials and the on-site electrician said electricity supply was interrupted due to a fault in a transformer. A generator was used as an alternative but failed to handle the load. A temporary direct power connection was then arranged, but a fault in the main line led to a wire burning out, delaying restoration of power to the MNCU.

The outage disrupted oxygen supply, causing breathing difficulties in a newborn and deterioration in the infant’s health condition. Doctors on duty responded immediately, shifted the baby during the emergency and provided necessary treatment, stabilising the child. The newborn was later shifted back to the MNCU after power supply was restored.

Following the findings, the block health manager of Dumraon, who was serving as acting hospital manager, was suspended with immediate effect, while departmental proceedings were initiated against the acting deputy superintendent.