Many land up in hospital

290 treated at 3 hospitals, most come with mild burns

Three major Delhi government-run hospitals reported over 290 burn cases on Diwali. The hospitals received more burn cases till Friday evening.

Central-government-run Safdarjung Hospital, meanwhile, reported 225 burn cases alone. Most victims had minor injuries and were discharged after being given first-aid treatment.

“Of the 225 cases, five were major burn cases who have been admitted. The other patients were discharged as they had minor burns,” said Dr K Agrawal, Head of the Department, Burns Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Safdarjung hospital.     

There were arrangements for treating burn cases in three state government-run hospitals – Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP), Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital (GTB) and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital (DDU). Also, four central-government-run hospitals – Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML), Suchita Kriplani Hospital and Kalawati Saran Children Hospital – were equipped to treat burns.

Most patients treated at the hospitals had received injuries while bursting firecrackers. A majority of them had suffered hand and face injuries.

RML Hospital saw 65 burn cases. Three patients were admitted with extensive burn injuries.

“The three suffered injuries while bursting firecrackers. In one case, a 40-year-old man has received 80 per cent burns. In the other two cases, an 11-year-old boy suffered severe face injuries and an 84-year-old woman suffered 40 per cent burns,” said Dr H K Kar, Medical Superintendent, RML Hospital. The victim with 80 per cent injuries is critical.

Surprisingly, there were only 55 cases reported at LNJP which has a capacity to treat over 100 burn victims. “The number of cases reported this year are the same as last year’s. Seven people have been admitted with severe injuries. No death has been reported at the hospital,” said Dr Arun Goel, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, LNJP.

The number of burn cases reported in DDU and GTB were 72 and 165 respectively.

However, DDU received a steady flow of burn patients even on Friday evening.
“We did not receive any case of severe injury. Most suffered hand and face injuries. While a majority of burn cases were within 3-4 per cent, the rest were within 10 per cent,” said Dr Ashish Dhingra, DDU.

At GTB Hospital, five patients were admitted due to severe burns.  “These patients were injured while bursting firecrackers. The admitted have suffered between 20-60 per cent burns,” said Dr Dhirendra Suman, GTB.

The capital has a total capacity of around 250 beds to treat burns. However, a few hospitals expanded their capacities, including opening the disaster beds, anticipating more burn injuries on Diwali.