Chandigarh hospitals see 71 burns cases on Diwali night

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 5

Three major government hospitals of the city received 71 patients with burns, including serious eye injuries, on Diwali night. The patients included residents of Mohali and Panchkula as well.

Only 27 such cases had been reported in 2020 against 162 cases in 2019.

A total of 15 patients with injuries caused by firecrackers reached the Advanced Eye Centre, PGI, Chandigarh. Of them, six were children, the youngest one being eight years old. The firecrackers that caused injuries to the 15 patients were rockets and crackers producing a loud sound. Dr SS Pandav, Head of Ophthalmology Department, PGI, said, “A total of 12 patients will be needing surgical intervention and nine of them have serious open globe injuries. Three patients require minor surgical procedures. All patients have unilateral injuries. Nine patients have been operated on and three are undergoing surgery.”

Advanced Trauma Centre of the PGI received three patients with burns. A 26-year-old patient had suffered about 25 per cent burns on the chest and arms. He has been admitted to Burns Ward of Nehru Hospital. The rest of the two patients were discharged after first aid.

The department of plastic surgery, PGI, received four patients who were injured during the Diwali celebrations. Two suffered major thermal burns while lighting candles. Both are being monitored closely in the Burns ICU. Another young patient suffered grievous hand injuries as a firecracker exploded while he was holding it. Similarly, one patient suffered deep burns on the thigh and hand in a firecracker blast. Both patients are also under close observation and will require multiple surgeries over the next few days.

The Emergency at the GMSH-16 also remained busy on the Diwali night dealing with routine emergency cases as well as patients with firecracker injuries. A total of 24 cases of minor burns were witnessed at the hospital. Four more cases of eye injuries were also reported in the emergency. A total of 21 patients visited the GMCH-32 with cracker injuries. Of them, 20 were discharged.

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