Patna: In a shocking incident, a road accident victim was operated upon in torchlight by doctors at a prominent government hospital in Bihar as there was no power supply.
The incident took place at Sadar hospital, the main government hospital in Saharsa district, some 230 km east of Patna, in the weekend.
Reports said an elderly couple had gone out for a morning walk in the district town when a police van knocked them down on Saturday.
While the man died on the spot, his wife was taken to the Sadar hospital with severe injuries.
Surgery
The critically-injured woman required immediate surgery but there was no power in the hospital. Left with no option, health officials conducted her surgery in torch light.
A video of the surgery shows the victim lying on a stretcher unconscious and stitches being done in torchlight amid the presence of many people.
Hospital authorities said they carried out the surgery in torchlight since there was no generator at the hospital.
Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey has sought a detailed report from the authorities warning against a repetition.
He said the woman had been only provided stitches in torchlight.
The victim’s family members expressed shock and demanded action.
Last year a woman was operated upon in a mobile phone torch light by the doctors at a hospital in neighbouring Khagaria district in December.
The incident had taken place in a sub-divisional hospital in Gogri in the district.
