PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
More than 100 people came for treatment to the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Hospital and Deen Dayal Upadhyay District Hospital after sustaining burn injuries during the Deepawali celebrations, which fell on Monday. Despite the confusion surrounding the festival’s date this year, the traditional use of fireworks and candles resulted in numerous burn-related incidents.
Informing about this, the medical superintendent at GDMC Hospital Dr RS Bisht informed that the emergency ward recorded a total of 54 burn injury cases on Monday night, with the count continuing until 8 AM on Tuesday. He said that only two to three of these cases were severe, while the majority were discharged after receiving first aid. The serious cases with major burn injuries were admitted to the hospital’s burn unit, which currently has 20 beds available. Bisht said that during the Deepawali festivities, the handling of burn cases was managed effectively, as all doctors were instructed to remain vigilant during that time. He also stated that he personally visited the emergency ward three times throughout the occasion to monitor the burn cases and oversee the ward’s operations.
Conversely, the emergency departments of district hospitals also experienced burn cases during the recent celebrations. In light of this, the principal medical superintendent of the district hospital Dr Manu Jain informed that there were a total of 50 cases of burn injuries recorded on the night of Deepawali and the following morning. All reported cases involved minor burns and the patients were discharged promptly. Jain said that all doctors were on high alert during the festivities and would remain vigilant until November 1, when the celebrations for Igas conclude. Further, the burn unit has been prepared to handle any serious cases that may arise in the coming days, as individuals often continue to set off fireworks post-celebration. He emphasised the importance of safety precautions during firecracker use, including having a bucket of water on hand and advising anyone who suffers an injury to seek immediate medical attention.
