KARACHI: Four critically ill patients on ventilators died at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre on Tuesday during a 15-hour power breakdown and lack of funds for fuel to run the three standby generators at the hospital.

The entire JPMC complex plunged into darkness at around 12 midnight on Monday and with standby generators not functioning for lack of fuel, all patients, especially those in intensive care units, suffered and some of them even died.

According to sources, Tuesday was the worst day for patients and physicians at JPMC. The casualty department started taking patients only after restoration of electricity at about 3pm.

Because of the power breakdown, all emergency and routine surgical operations were postponed, some essential services in different wards, technical sections and the casualty department were also suspended at a time when the city is experiencing an emergency because of heavy monsoon rains.

The executive director of JPMC, Prof Tasnim Ahsan, admitted the disruption in operation theatres and inadequate patient care, but attributed the mess to the power breakdown.

She said the JPMC had a liability of Rs1 million till June this year and when it was devolved by the federal government under the 18th Amendment another Rs1 million was added to its liability and, therefore, the supply of fuel could not be maintained for the three big generators with a combined capacity of 3000KV.

The KESC claimed there had been some internal issues with the JPMC wiring which had been intimated to the hospital’s electrical staff for maintenance.