‘Half his blood stuck in machine’: UP kidney patient dies during dialysis as power fails, no diesel for generator | Meerut News

A 26-year-old kidney patient in Bijnor died during dialysis when a power outage struck the district hospital, and the backup generator lacked fuel. Sarfaraz Ahmad’s treatment was interrupted, leaving his family pleading for help.

BIJNOR: A kidney patient died during dialysis after a power cut halted treatment, and the hospital generator had no fuel, even as an official inspection was underway at the Bijnor district hospital, authorities said on Saturday. Sarfaraz Ahmad, 26, from Phulsanda village, was undergoing dialysis when electricity failed. Hospital staff said they could not resume treatment because the contracted firm had not supplied diesel.CDO Purna Borah, inspecting the hospital at the time of the incident on Friday, found five other patients lying there without power, lights or fans.Sarfaraz’s mother told TOI, “When the power went off, the machine stopped midway with almost half his blood stuck inside it. I begged the staff to start the generator, but no one helped. My son died soon after.”Medical experts TOI spoke to, however, said it is highly unlikely that a large amount of Sarfaraz’s blood could have been inside the machine at any given point. A doctor clarified, “During haemodialysis, only a fraction – about 200 to 250 ml – of blood circulates through the machine at any time. However, an abrupt power failure can delay the process and destabilise critically ill patients”

The hospital staff blamed Sanjeevani, the private firm running the unit under a public-private partnership since 2020, for repeatedly failing to supply diesel. DM Jasjit Kaur visited the hospital and seized all dialysis-unit records and assured strict action.Kaur said, “There was mismanagement and no cleanliness in the unit. A case is being registered against the agency. In addition, it will be blacklisted.”