Cracker ban effect: Burn cases come down to half in Noida

NOIDA: The apex court ban on sale of firecrackers has had a positive effect in the city, as the number of people getting hurt while celebrating Diwali this year came down by half.

Only 31 persons got hurt on Diwali day this year, compared to the 60 last year, said sources.

The district hospital reported only 20 cases of burn injuries, out of which only one was serious. Last year, 31 cases of burn injuries were reported in the hospital.

"A youth had burnt his neck and hand while bursting a cracker. He was referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi for further treatment. The rest of the cases, which included two children, did not require admission or referral," Dr Abhishek Dubey, who handled the emergency ward from 8pm to 8am on Thursday told TOI.

Dr Manisha Kumari, who handled the emergency ward from 8am till 2pm on Friday told TOI that only one or two burn-related cases had come during her shift and the same were minor in nature.

Similarly, the super speciality paediatric hospital and post graduate teaching institute (SSPHPGTI) in Sector 30 also reported only two cases of burns this year and the same were not serious. Most private hospitals reported lower cases of burns than the previous year on Diwali and the day after. In ESIC Hospital, Sector 24, which reported six superficial burn cases post Diwali last year, one case of a serious burn injury was reported on Thursday.

"A 30-year-old woman suffered 45% burns when she was bursting crackers. She has been referred to Safdarjung hospital," Dr Neelima, director, ESIC Hospital told TOI.

A spokesperson for the Metro Hospital, Sector 11 said the hospital has received no burn injury so far. The authorities at Kailash Hospital, Sector 27, which had reported over 17 burn cases including that of five children last year, said that it has reported only five cases which required only first aid.

In Jaypee Hospital, Sector 128, three cases of post-Diwali eye injuries were reported.

"The three cases pertain to eye injuries. No burns have been reported so far," a spokesperson for the hospital said.

Last year, the hospital had reported three burn injuries including that of a youth who had to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after he fell down while trying to ignite a cracker.

Fortis hospital, Sector 62 which had reported eight cases of burn injuries last year reported none this year, a spokesperson said.