Children account for nearly half of patients injured by Diwali firecrackers

At the government-run Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital in Hyderabad, the proportion of children among patients suffering eye injuries due to firecrackers during the Diwali festival has been observed to be significantly high. Children constitute nearly half of the total patients who arrived at the hospital for treatment.

According to a report by The Hindu, a total of 60 patients visited the hospital during the festival on 7 and 8 November. Out of these 60 patients, 29 were children, while 31 patients were adults. Among these patients, 21 suffered serious injuries, while 39 patients were noted to have sustained minor injuries.

Out of the 10 patients admitted to the hospital, it has been decided to perform surgery on 8 patients. The remaining 2 patients do not require surgery, but will have to undergo emergency examinations under anesthesia. According to Dr. Modini Pandharpurkar, Superintendent of Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, 54 patients were treated during the same period last year, and compared to that, this year the number remains similar.

Dr. Pandharpurkar expressed expectation that the number of patients may increase in the next two to three days, as more patients from other districts are likely to reach Hyderabad for treatment. She further stated that many patients were innocent passersby, who sustained injuries while walking on the road or while standing in places where firecrackers were being burst. The injuries this year involved various types of firecrackers such as bullet bombs, chilli bombs, and rockets.

In the case of nine-year-old Mokshit from Bhadrachalam, he was waiting for treatment in the burn ward. Along with Mokshit's father, his mother Lakshmi was also present there. Lakshmi stated that while her son was bursting a firecracker, a part of it suddenly flew off and hit his eye. They had taken him to a local hospital in Bhadrachalam, where doctors stated that he might need surgery and advised taking him to Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital. They have arrived here and are now waiting for the doctors to examine him and decide on further treatment.

Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital is a government hospital located in Hyderabad that provides various eye-related treatments and surgeries.