Several patients were moved out of the ICU ward of a private hospital in Chennai’s Annanagar neighbourhood after a portion of the compound wall collapsed due to heavy rains. The wall of the Sundaram Medical Foundation (old building) in Shanthi colony collapsed at 1:30 am on Thursday after Chennai saw the heaviest rains in 2019.
The wall, which caved in, knocked down the main transformer of the building which, in turn, fell and disrupted the power supply to the hospital.
“There were around 20 patients who were moved out of the hospital as we faced a power shortage. Patients from the Intensive Care Unit have been moved out and some of them have been admitted to Apollo,” hospital staff at Sundaram Medical Foundation told TNM.
The collapsed wall led to some amount of inundation and damaged the drainage connection of the hospital.
“A part of the hospital was inaccessible as the rainwater entered and filled up the area. However, now, we are in the process of fixing the drainage pipes and the collapsed wall. Power supply, too, has been restored,” the staff added. According to reports, around 12 male patients, 9 women patients and 1 child were shifted out of the hospital. Apart from Apollo hospital in Vanagaram, some were also admitted to MGM hospital in Nelson Manickam Road, SMF (new building in Annanagar) and Kanchi Kamakoti Child’s Trust hospital in Nungambakkam.
Chennai recently witnessed the wettest day of 2019, with around 108 mm of rainfall received within 24 hours until 8:30 am on Thursday. Heavy rains and thundershowers were a result of the upper air circulation of the south Andhra coast which resulted in thunderstorm activity in Chennai and neighbouring regions.
While the rains came as a relief to the city which has been water-starved over the last few months, the heavy showers also led to building collapses resulting in one casualty.
Serena Banu, a 42-year-old woman and mother of two died on the spot after heavy rains caused a portion of a wall in Mannady to collapse on her while the family was asleep. The woman died immediately after sustaining grievous injuries. However, her husband and two children were safely shifted out of the house.
The incident took place at 6:20 am on Iyappan street. The house had been located on a temple property which Serena’s family had taken on rent.
Also read: 42-year-old woman dies in Chennai, as a wall of her house collapses in rain
Source: The News Minute