Power failure at NICH leaves four children dead

Karachi: A power failure at the National Institute of Child Health, Karachi left four infants dead, after the supply to their incubators was cut.

Four infants were on oxygen support via incubators when the power failure occurred, claiming the young lives. According to the Hospital officials, a few other children are in critical condition as well after the 6 hour long power outage.

It is critical to have emergency care hospitals equipped with a secondary power source in such situations, but it was evident that NICH lacked an alternate power supply, for which the administration is to be blamed. According to Karachi Electric representatives, the area was not subjected to any planned load shedding and no reports or complaints of power failure were received from the area or the hospital itself.

Officials are still probing into the cause of the power outage that tore four families apart and ended four young lives.

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News Update at 20:30 8th November 2014

Director, NICH, Prof Jamal Raza while talking to the media person said only a baby girl was died in hospital who was admitted on 6th November due to her critical condition. He said power outage has  no links with this death.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Health Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar strongly took notice of the incident over death of four children in NICH. They also directed the secretary health to conduct inquiry of incident and present report to them. They said strict action would be taken against official if any found in any kind negligence.