Diwali firecracker injuries touch a four-year high

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The city this year has seen an increase in the number of injuries caused due to firecracker mishaps during Diwali when compared with the last four years. Doctors from Bengaluru’s top eye hospitals have said as many as 70 cases have been reported since Sunday.

Narayana Nethralaya Chairman and Managing Director Dr Bhujang Shetty told media persons that six people have completely lost their vision.

“Our hospital has seen over 50 cases of firecracker injuries, where six people have had their eyeballs ruptured. Another six have lost their vision completely,” he said and added that out of the total patients, 38 of them were men while 12 were women, and 26 were aged below 16 years.

“Around 24 bystanders or passers-by got injured while they were walking on the road and the crackers were being burst by others,” Dr Shetty said. The doctor further advised the public to celebrate a cracker-free Diwali, as it not only has the potential to be dangerous to humans but increases air and noise pollution.

On the other hand, the state-run Minto eye hospital has recorded 27 cases of injuries due to firecracker mishaps. The Resident Medical Officer (RMO), Dr Vidya, said that among the injured 14 were adults and 13 were children.

“There were about nine cases of grievous injuries. While seven of them have been admitted to the hospital, two of them have chosen to go home in spite of the doctor's advice,” she added.