Rain cripples medical services at hospitals, many surgeries put off at Delhi AIIMS and LNJP

NEW DELHI: Medical facilities across the city were affected by the early morning downpour on Friday, with many surgeries being postponed at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Lok Nayak Hospital.
At least 50% of the surgeries at AIIMS were cancelled due to waterlogging in the basements of the trauma centre and Cardiothoracic Neurosciences Centre (CNC), where electric panels are located.Many parking areas also got flooded.
AIIMS’ National Centre for Ageing (NCA), which was inaugurated in Dec 2023 by Union health minister, got flooded and rainwater seeped into the room where the CT scan machine was kept. The traffic movement in the tunnel connecting the trauma centre to the main AIIMS building was also disrupted, forcing patients to be transported by the main road. The tunnel was inaccessible till the evening.
The trauma centre had to cancel more than 12 routine surgeries. Due to excessive moisture near electric panels, the authorities decided to suspend all surgical procedures to prevent the risk of electric shock. Officials said the engineering department’s approval would be required before proceeding with any scheduled night-time surgery. The situation was further complicated as the pumps installed to remove excess water also didn’t function properly.
Doctors said that no critical surgery was scheduled and patients requiring immediate surgeries were transferred to the emergency red area. Some operation theatres even experienced minor water seepage.
The power supply was disrupted in many areas, including wards and OPDs. In several buildings, airconditioning units were not functional, causing discomfort to patients and staff. Many blood donors left without donating due to the suffocating conditions in enclosed spaces.
The basement of the CNC building was flooded with knee-deep water, rendering three elevators inoperable. According to a notice issued by the acting head of the neurosurgery department, its OTs were non-functional due to the breakdown of the airconditioning system and water seepage from the walls. Several patients were sent to either Safdarjung or other govt hospitals, said officials.
Prof Rima Dada, who is in charge of AIIMS’ media cells, said, “As a precautionary measure, surgeries were suspended due to waterlogging in the basements. Surgeries will resume as soon as the system is managed.”
Several surgeries were also postponed at Lok Nayak Hospital due to the delayed arrival of the surgical and anaesthesia teams. According to the hospital, at least five surgeries, two of which were major, had to be cancelled.
The area leading to the emergency department at RML Hospital also got flooded, resulting in difficulties for patients and their companions attempting to access the medical facility. According to doctors, the water receded in two hours.