The emergency corridors of PGIMS Rohtak mirrored a war zone last night as a relentless stream of ambulances brought in victims of firecracker mishaps from across Rohtak and neighboring districts.
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The Casualty Breakdown: Medical Superintendent Dr. Kundan Mittal confirmed that the Dhanwantari Apex Trauma Centre was stretched to its limit.
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Burn Unit: 109 total burn cases (62 adults and 47 children).
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Ocular Trauma: 40 cases specifically involving the eyes, ranging from chemical irritation to “open globe” injuries caused by shrapnel.
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Child Vulnerability: “Nearly 45% of our patients last night were under the age of 14. In many cases, children were either standing too close to ‘pots’ (anars) or were hit by crackers being burst by others,” noted Dr. Rajesh Rohilla, Nodal Officer of the Trauma Centre.
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The Culprits: Doctors identified “bullet bombs” and “sky shots” as the primary causes of severe trauma. One 8-year-old child suffered permanent vision loss in one eye after a rocket entered through a window and exploded near his face.
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Emergency Measures: The hospital had deployed extra teams of surgeons, ophthalmologists, and nursing staff on 24-hour duty. Of the 404 total emergency arrivals on Diwali night, 74 required admission, with one burn patient currently battling for life in the ICU with over 60% burns.
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Beyond Crackers: Apart from festive injuries, the hospital handled a significant spike in physical altercations (50 cases) and road accidents (10 cases), largely attributed to celebratory gatherings.
Medical Warning: The Ophthalmology department has urged those with even minor eye irritation from smoke or sparks to avoid rubbing their eyes and seek immediate professional help. “Home remedies like applying ghee or toothpaste on burns only aggravate the infection,” warned a senior resident.
