‘He was terrified…It was pitch black even in casualty’: Mother of child stitched under mobile light

Vaikom, Kerala: In a shocking incident, a 11-year-old boy had his stitches done under the light of mobile phones after a power outage at Vaikom Taluk Hospital.

“The darkness terrified my son. His stitches were done using mobile lights, and many others were waiting for their stitches. The casualty area was also pitch black. After the stitches, they didn’t even let him sit in the observation room,” the boy's mother told Mathrubhumi News.

The incident took place on Saturday at around 4:30 p.m. when S Devathirthi, the son of K P Sujith and Surabhi, suffered a head injury after falling at home. His parents rushed him to the hospital, where he was initially taken to the emergency room for treatment.

However, the parents were later informed that the hospital was experiencing a power cut, and the room was too dark for treatment. They were told to wait outside the outpatient counter.

When questioned, hospital staff explained that the generator was not running continuously due to high diesel costs.

Devathirthi was then moved to the emergency department, where the doctor reportedly performed the stitches using the light from a mobile phone while the child sat by a window. The boy received two stitches on his head.

The hospital authorities have stated that an investigation will be conducted into the incident. This follows an earlier case where six people, including staff, were trapped for half an hour in a malfunctioning lift at the same hospital.

Devathirthi received two stitches to his head. The hospital management has announced that an investigation into the incident will be carried out. This follows a prior issue where six individuals, including hospital staff, were trapped for half an hour in a malfunctioning lift at the hospital.