29 suffer firecracker-related burn injuries during festival

The festival of Deepavali saw 29 people suffering burns from firecracker-related injuries. Doctors said they were being given utmost care, and the victims responded to treatment. Last year, 49 persons suffered burn injuries during Deepavali. The heavy northeast monsoon rains that lashed the city this year, kept the number of burn victims low, as children remained indoors. This year also saw sale of crackers taking a considerable dip.

Kilpauk Medical College Dean Dr Narayanababu told reporters on Wednesday that provisions were made to increase the beds. Ten additional beds for adults and 5 for children were arranged to in the 50-bed burn unit during Deepavali season while 20 beds for men and women each were kept ready at the Intensive Care Unit. Ward In-charge, senior doctors, and nurses were on duty round the clock on Deepavali day to attend to the burn victims without delay. He said the 29 patients sustained more burns on hands and legs.

Apart from this, about 8 persons in Chennai Government hospital, 11 in Royapettah Government hospital and 3 in Stanley received treatment for slight burns. Since people could not burst much crackers on the waterlogged roads and inundated areas due to intermittent heavy rains, the cracker-related incidents were significantly less this time.