Gross Administrative Negligence: Critical Power Infrastructure Failure and Healthcare Crisis In DHH Rayagada
Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Associate editor
Rayagada, May 9: It is an extremely disturbing reality that the only major government health care institution serving nearly 12 lakh predominantly tribal people of Rayagada district is functioning without a reliable and dedicated power supply system, thereby putting countless lives at risk every single day. It is deeply alarming that even after spending nearly Rs.2crores for ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to the District Headquarters Hospital(DHH) more than a decade ago, the hospital still does not have a functional dedicated medical feeder. Due to gross administrative lapse and questionable decisions taken then, the hospital was reportedly connected to the general urban power supply network instead of receiving an exclusive direct medical connection. Consequently, every major power disruption in the town directly affects the hospital and its critical medical services.
The recent Kalbaisakhi storm exposed the horrifying fragility of the system when the DHH reportedly remained without electricity for more than four hours. During this period, patients, attendants and hospital staff faced unbearable hardship while critically ill patients remained exposed to grave danger. The existing two 125KWg enerators are insufficient for the hospital’s actual load Vital hospital units suffer repeated voltage fluctuation and power Tuberculosis Ward, NRC Ward and even the Blood Bank reportedly do not have proper DG-set connectivity. Blood Bank staff are allegedly forced to arrange rented generators during outages merely to preserve life-saving blood units stored in refrigerators. Old electrical wiring installed nearly ten years ago has reportedly not been replaced despite increasing load and safety risks. A hospital officially sanctioned for 149 beds is presently handling nearly 250 patients, with treatment reportedly continuing even in corridors and verandahs.
If a District Headquarters Hospital cannot ensure uninterrupted electricity supply for operation theatres, blood storage units, emergency wards and critical care systems in 2026, then it raises serious concerns regarding the priorities of public health care governance in some of the most neglected regions of Odisha. The people of Rayagada District increasingly feel that despite contributing immensely through natural resources, forests and mineral wealth, they continue to remain neglected in basic sectors like healthcare, higher education and infrastructure. This growing sense of exclusion creates frustration, alienation and erosion of public trust in equitable governance.
Gouro Chandro Tripathy, Convenor of Dandakaranya Vikasha Mahamancha, has urged the Govt for immediate establishment of a fully functional Dedicated Medical Power Feeder for Rayagada DHH, installation of adequate high-capacity backup DG sets and uninterrupted power systems for all critical wards including ICU, Blood Bank, TB Ward and NRC Ward, immediate technical audit of the hospital’s electrical infrastructure including wiring, transformers and load management systems, urgent modernization and expansion of Rayagada DHH considering the actual patient load and tribal population dependency, establishment of a Government Allopathic Medical College and Teaching Hospital in Rayagada district to address the chronic healthcare deficit of this industrial hub in Southern Odisha, formulation of a Special Healthcare Infrastructure Mission for the entire Undivided Koraput region.
