Side effects of firecrackers: Over 140 injured admitted in PGIMER, Chandigarh

Over 140 people with burn and eye injuries admitted in PGIMER, Chandigarh (Express)

This year, city hospitals recorded over 140 burn and eye injuries due to bursting of firecrackers on Diwali. According to doctors at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , 22 patients have suffered serious eye injuries. Chandigarh Newsline spoke to the victims and the family members of the 16 patients who are currently admitted to PGI’s Advance Eye Centre. Doctors claim it is very difficult to say how much vision they will regain in the coming days. But one thing is for sure, their vision won’t be the same as earlier. Indian Express reports.

Pritham

Age: 7 

Residence: Bhatinda, Punjab

Eye hit: Left

The parents of Pritham say that he asked money from them to purchase some eatables from a nearby shop. “We even don’t know that he had purchased a rocket and ignited it. The rocket hit his eye and he suffered injuries,” the father said. The parents claimed that when he came rushing home they found that his eye was bleeding.

Akshita Saini

Age: 9

Residence: Saharanpur, UP

Eye hit: Right

Akshita’s father Amresh Saini said they were not bursting crackers when the incident happened. “She was trying to get firecrackers from her brother and in the course the wire of a phuljhadi hit her eye,” he said. “We don’t want the same situation to happen with anyone else. Let there be a total ban on the sale of firecrackers. I hope she regains her vision soon. I am praying for it.”

Dipanshu A

Age: 10

Residence: Kaithal, Haryana

Eye hit: Left

The family members blamed the children living in the neighborhood for the incident. “They purchased some bullet bombs and started bursting. My son told me that he got injured after one of the bomb hit his eye,” said Saroj, the mother. She also demands a complete ban on sale of firecrackers. “It is because of firecrackers that celebrations on Diwali changes to gloom.”

Krishna

Age: 10

Residence: Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

Eye hit: Right

According to his family members, Krishna injured his eye while he was trying to burst a firecracker. “When it exploded it hit his eyes. His right eye is injured and currently he is not able to see anything,” said the father Sanjay Kumar. He was taken to a local health facility, from where he was referred to PGI. Doctors say he has already undergone a surgery.

Mohammed Ayaan

Age: 13

Residence: Malerkotla, Punjab

Eye hit: Right

He injured his eye while he was busy watching firecrackers being bursting in the neighborhood. “He was watching children bursting firecrackers. Suddenly, something hit his eye and it started bleeding,” said Salma, the mother. “We never burst crackers because we know how dangerous they could be. But my son has suffered for no reason.”

Arjun

Age: 20

Residence: Baddi, HP

Eye hit: Right

Bahadur Singh, one of Arjun’s relative said that he got injured while he was watching others burst firecrackers in the neighbourhood. “People were bursting firecrackers on the roof and he was watching them from the main road. We don’t know what type of firecracker hit his eye..doctors say they cannot say anything whether he would regain his vision completely,” he said.

Vinay Chauhan

Age: 15

Residence: Nawashahar, Punjab

Eye hit: Left

According to the family members, Vinay was watching firecrackers being bursted in the neighborhood. “We don’t know how it happened. But, we know that he was not bursting firecrackers. He fell on the ground and we immediately took him to the nearby hospital for treatment from where he was referred to PGI,”said the father Jagdish Lal. He said that the government shouldn’t allow sale of firecrackers. “Firecrackers are causing harm to people. If firecrackers are available in the market, children will ask their parents to get it for them. But when there won’t be any crackers, no one will face such a problem.”

Kishan Chand

Age: 37

Residence: Morni, Panchkula

Eye hit: Right

According to Kishan Chand, his brother Harish that some kids were bursting firecrackers when the incident happened. “It was a bullet bomb and after it exploded something went inside his eye. He suffered injuries in his right eye. Doctors have said to wait for 3 to 4 days,” he told Chandigarh Newsline. The incident, according to the family members, happened on the next day of Diwali. “He has already undergone a surgery and we are praying for his speedy recovery.”

Varinder

Age: 33

Residence: Gobindgarh, Punjab

Eye hit: Left

Varinder who works in a pipe plant said that the firecracker in his hand suddenly exploded and he suffered injured in his eye. “It happened in seconds. There was a plastic bottle nearby and it also exploded,” he said. Other than suffering injuries on the eye, Vinay also suffered burn injuries on his face and neck as well. “I won’t do it ever again in my life. I had no idea that it will bring trouble to my life.”

Bhupinder Singh

Age: 40

Residence: Yamunagar Haryana

Eye hit: Right

According to doctors, Bhupinder Singh’s eye globe has ruptured due to the injury. The family members say as soon he went outside from the house, a stray cracker hit his eye. “He doesn’t remember how it happened. He only remembers that something hit his eye and blood came out,” said his sister Situ. The family members said that the firecrackers are causing harm to the people and bursting of firecrackers does not signify celebration. “This problem will remain forever…what about those people who cannot afford long-term treatment in such a situation.”

Ram Isher

Age: 40

Residence: Punjab

Eye hit: Left

After performing puja, Isher went outside his home where children were bursting bullet bomb. “During the explosion, something got into the left eye and it was seriously injured,” said Pariwnder Singh, a family member.

Asha Rani

Age: 42

Residence: Punjab

Eye hit: Right

According to Asha Rani’s son-in-law Balwinder Singh, a rocket hit her eye while she was watching firecrackers being bursted from her house. “She was watching it from the gate. In the area, people were bursting crackers and suddenly a rocket hit her left eye,” he said.

Pinder Kaur

Age: 42

Residence: Nallahgarh, H.P

Eye hit: Right

Kaur was watching firecrackers being bursted from her house. “She told us that something hit her eye and it was very hot. Currently, she is not able to see anything,” said Rakbir Singh, one of the relatives. “Every year people suffer this type of injuries. Why can’t the government do something to save people from this lifetime pain.”

Vicky

Age: 50

Residence: Karnal, Haryana

Eye hit: Left

Family members say that he was a bystander and the incident happened while he was watching firecrackers being bursted. “He was on the roof when his eye got injured…he was bursting any firecrackers, but became a victim,”said Narinder Singh, one of the relatives. “I request everyone, let us stop bursting firecrackers. Government should take some strong steps regarding it.”

Vinay Chauhan

Age: 15

Residence: Nawashahar, Punjab

Eye hit: Left

According to the family members, Vinay was watching firecrackers being bursted in the neighborhood. “We don’t know how it happened. But, we know that he was not bursting firecrackers. He fell on the ground and we immediately took him to the nearby hospital for treatment from where he was referred to PGI,”said the father Jagdish Lal. He said that the government shouldn’t allow sale of firecrackers. “Firecrackers are causing harm to people. If firecrackers are available in the market, children will ask their parents to get it for them. But when there won’t be any crackers, no one will face such a problem.”

Kishan Chand

Age: 37

Residence: Morni, Panchkula

Eye hit: Right

According to Kishan Chand, his brother Harish that some kids were bursting firecrackers when the incident happened. “It was a bullet bomb and after it exploded something went inside his eye. He suffered injuries in his right eye. Doctors have said to wait for 3 to 4 days,” he told Chandigarh Newsline. The incident, according to the family members, happened on the next day of Diwali. “He has already undergone a surgery and we are praying for his speedy recovery.”