What Happened?

On November 6, 2025, A major hospital in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, experienced a massive power outage that disrupted operations across several critical wards. The blackout began around 1:45 PM and lasted nearly ten hours, with power restored only by 11:45 PM.

The outage was triggered by accidental damage to an underground power cable near the mortuary during ongoing water pipeline maintenance. While emergency blocks like the ICU, NICU, and CSR continued functioning on backup generators, other departments—including orthopaedics, paediatrics, and women’s wards—were left without electricity, water, or ventilation.

During this period, a 45-year-old woman passed away. Her family alleged that the blackout interrupted her oxygen supply, contributing to her death. However, hospital authorities, including clarified that she had liver complications and suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, and was not on oxygen support at the time of the outage.

Why did it happen?

The root cause of the incident was infrastructure negligence. The underground power cable was accidentally damaged during unrelated pipeline work, revealing a lack of coordination between departments and contractors.

Key contributing factors include:

• No pre-work inspection of underground utilities
• Absence of real-time monitoring systems
• Lack of contingency planning for critical infrastructure
• Inadequate electrical safety audits to identify vulnerabilities

This incident is not isolated. Across India, hospitals and public buildings often suffer from aging infrastructure, poor documentation of underground assets, and reactive rather than preventive maintenance.

Impact on Hospital Operations

The ten-hour blackout had severe operational consequences:

• Disruption of patient care: Wards were plunged into darkness, affecting routine procedures and diagnostics.
• MRI scans halted: Imaging services were suspended due to lack of power.
• Poor ventilation and water supply: Patients and families endured discomfort and distress.
• Increased risk for vulnerable patients: Though emergency blocks had backup, other wards lacked redundancy.
• Staff strain: Medical teams had to manage patients manually, increasing fatigue and risk.
• Public outcry and political criticism: The incident drew sharp reactions from opposition leaders and the public, questioning the government’s preparedness.

This hospital serves not only Andhra Pradesh but also neighboring states like Odisha and Chhattisgarh, making uninterrupted service a regional necessity.

How It Can Be Avoided

Preventing such incidents requires a multi-layered approach:

1. Pre-construction Coordination

• Mandatory utility mapping before any civil work
• Use of GIS-based infrastructure planning
• Real-time work permits and alerts for sensitive zones

2. Infrastructure Monitoring

• Installation of smart sensors to detect faults
• Regular thermography inspections by certified thermal imaging firms in India
• Integration of Building Management Systems (BMS) for centralized control

3. Emergency Preparedness

• Conduct mock drills for power failure scenarios
• Maintain redundant power lines and dual-source feeders
• Ensure water storage and ventilation backup in all wards

Why Electrical Safety Audits Are Essential

An electrical safety audit is a systematic evaluation of a facility’s electrical systems to identify risks, ensure compliance, and recommend improvements.

Benefits of Electrical Safety Audits:

• Early detection of faults: Prevents short circuits and overloads
• Compliance assurance: Meets safety norms and legal standards
• Asset protection: Safeguards expensive medical equipment
• Patient safety: Reduces risk of fire, shock, and service disruption
• Insurance validity: Required for claims and liability protection

Partnering with the best electrical safety audit firm in India ensures thorough inspection, actionable insights, and peace of mind.

What Audits Should Cover:

• Wiring and insulation checks
• Load balancing and circuit analysis
• Earthing and grounding systems
• Protective devices (RCCBs, MCBs)
• Thermal imaging to detect hotspots
• Compliance with National Electrical Code (NEC)

Many top electrical inspection companies in India offer integrated services including thermography, energy audits, and compliance consulting.

How to Ensure Effective Backup Power Systems

Hospitals must treat backup power as a primary lifeline, not a secondary option.

Key Elements of a Robust Backup System:

1. Generator Capacity Planning

• Match generator output to peak load requirements
• Include critical and non-critical loads in design
• Conduct thermal imaging inspection of DG feeders periodically

2. Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS)

• Enables seamless switchover during outages
• Reduces downtime and manual intervention

3. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

• Protects sensitive equipment like ventilators and monitors
• Ensures zero lag during transition
• Plan back up power arrangements to UPS during long power failures

4. Fuel Management

• Maintain adequate diesel reserves
• Monitor fuel quality and consumption
• Prepare back up fuel supply 

5. Routine Testing and Maintenance

• Weekly generator run tests
• Monthly load tests
• Annual electrical safety audits including backup systems

6. Redundancy and Zoning

• Divide hospital into power zones
• Use multiple generators for critical blocks

Conclusion

The Hospital power outage was a preventable crisis that exposed deep flaws in infrastructure management, coordination, and emergency preparedness. While the hospital staff and electricity board worked tirelessly to restore power, the incident caused distress, disruption, and public concern.

To prevent recurrence, hospitals must:

• Conduct regular electrical safety audits
• Partner with the best electrical safety audit firms in India
• Use services from top electrical inspection companies in India
• Integrate thermal imaging firms in India for predictive maintenance
• Build redundant, automated backup power systems
• Foster a culture of safety and accountability

Healthcare facilities are not just buildings—they are lifelines. Every wire, switch, and generator must be treated with the same care as every patient. Because in a hospital, power is not just electricity—it’s survival.