In a shocking incident at Zaheerabad Area Hospital in Telangana, doctors were forced to treat patients using mobile phone flashlights during a sudden power outage. This alarming situation came to light after a viral video showed medical staff attending to patients in the dark emergency ward, illuminating the room only with their phone lights.
The power outage caused severe disruption, especially in the emergency ward, where timely medical care is critical. Although the hospital was equipped with a backup generator, there was a significant delay in activating it, which exacerbated the crisis and put both patients and doctors in a difficult position.
THIS is the “progress” Congress brings in 2025!
Zaheerabad Area Hospital, #Telangana where doctors now rely on mobile phone flashlights to treat patients.
Power cuts, failed generators, and zero accountability.
This is the pathetic state of public healthcare under Congress… pic.twitter.com/8VWqmMoQzR— Shanthi Kumar (@BJPShanthikumar) May 31, 2025
Following the viral spread of the video, the Telangana health department took swift action by suspending V Sridhar Kumar, the superintendent of Zaheerabad Area Hospital, citing negligence in handling the situation. Telangana Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident.
The investigation, conducted by the Sangareddy Collector and the Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad Commissioner, confirmed that the delay in switching on the backup generator was the primary cause of the emergency ward’s blackout. This failure resulted in a temporary but serious disruption of emergency medical services.
In response, the Telangana health department has issued new statewide guidelines mandating that all government hospital superintendents ensure backup generators remain operational at all times. This directive aims to prevent such incidents from recurring and to safeguard uninterrupted patient care.
The incident also sparked political backlash. Shanthi Kumar, BJP Telangana State Treasurer, criticized the ruling Congress party for the poor state of public healthcare, highlighting the power cuts, failed generators, and lack of accountability. Opposition leader Harish Rao Thanneeru also condemned the government, questioning the management of healthcare infrastructure and the impact on rural hospitals.
This incident at Zaheerabad Area Hospital, which handles over 300 patients, raises serious concerns about the readiness and reliability of critical healthcare infrastructure in Telangana. Ensuring continuous power supply and functional backup systems is essential to protect patient safety and maintain trust in public health services.
