Over 20 eye injury cases

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 8

Contrary to expectations that Diwali celebrations would be a low-key affair this time due to the recent Jaura Phatak train accident that claimed 59 lives, residents resorted to rampant cracker bursting on Wednesday during which several cases of eye injury were reported at city hospitals.

Nineteen cases were reported at Om Parkash Eye Hospital and five at the Government ENT Hospital. Of the ENT Hospital cases, only one is serious.

Dr Rohit Om Parkash of the Om Parkash Eye Hospital said that out of the 19 cases reported at his centre, seven were serious and a four-year-old child lost his vision due to crackers. Those seven critical patients are expected to suffer a considerable loss of vision, he said, adding that parents should not allow children to burn firecrackers on their own.

Since no such case has been reported at the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital and the Government Medical College Hospital, officials have a different story to tell.

Dr Surinder Paul, in-charge, Government Medical College Hospital, said, “One patient brought to the ENT Hospital sustained a serious injury and has been undergoing treatment. In recent years, the medical staff on Diwali night had a tough time dealing with the influx of patients. But this year, no burn injury has been reported.”

Senior Medical Officer at Civil Hospital, Dr Charanjit Singh, said, “The recent train accident had an impact on people as several people didn’t use firecrackers to express solidarity with the victims. Only around six cases of drunken brawls have been reported which are too than that of the previous years. Awareness campaigns in schools have helped as children, too, want to contribute towards environment conservation.”

The hospitals had deputed extra staff, including specialist doctors, on night duty keeping in view the cases reported in the recent years. “We had also asked the staff to be alert and not to leave the station even if they have not been assigned duty. But everything went alright,” added Dr Charanjit Singh.

19 fire incidents this time

Amritsar: With 19 fire incidents reported on Diwali night, the city stood second in Punjab after Ludhiana where around 25 such cases kept fire officials on toes.

The incidents weren’t major as the fire staff doused the flames timely. No casualty or major injury was reported in the city.

   According to fire officials, the city witnessed 19 such incidents in different parts, including Jahajgarh slums. Besides, fire erupted at a jute bag factory on Jhabal road, crop residue in Wadali, a shop in congested Guru Bazaar, outside DAV College, Katra Baggian and Garden Colony, said fire officer Lovepreet Singh.

   “The fire incidents were controlled within minutes as fire tenders reached in no time after getting information,” he said. Had there been a little delay, fire in Jahajgarh slums would have escalated, he said.

   According to the fire officer, Amritsar is second in the entire state after Ludhiana in fire instances during Diwali festival.

“We had pressed into service 10 fire tenders. Two from Sewa Samiti and four jeeps were also deployed.