Lights out: 179 cracker injuries, 49 fire calls mar Hyderabad Diwali

Hyderabad: At least 179 people suffered firecracker-related injuries in Hyderabad between Saturday night and Monday afternoon (November 7 to 9), most of them to the eyes, according to figures from four hospitals in the city.

The LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) treated 92 firecracker injury cases across two nights. The eve of Diwali was relatively calm. Between 7 pm on Saturday, November 7, and 7 am the next morning, the hospital saw only two minor cracker injuries, neither of which required surgery.

Diwali night was a different story. Between 7 pm on Sunday, November 8, and 5 am on Monday, November 9, LVPEI recorded 90 cracker injuries. Doctors advised surgery in 25 of these cases and planned 22 operations, six of which had been performed by the time the overnight report closed.

Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital

At the Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, 74 patients with cracker injuries had been treated as of 2 pm on Monday. Of these, 12 were admitted, and according to hospital authorities, 10 surgeries are being performed on Monday.

Among the cases, two patients, both adults, have a poor prognosis, while one child is expected to recover. Officials had said on Sunday that one patient had completely lost vision in his right eye. 

The hospital referred three patients to Niloufer Hospital and one to Osmania General Hospital (OGH). Two patients are under observation, and two others admitted on Monday are still being evaluated.

Other hospitals

Speaking to Siasat.com, Osmania General Hospital (OGH) Superintendent Dr Rakesh Sahaye said, “Over the last two days (Saturday, Sunday), we received 12 cases of minor eye injuries. All of them were treated as outpatient cases and discharged.”

Niloufer Hospital Superintendent Dr G Vijay Kumar said a three-year-old boy was admitted with a cracker injury to his mouth. The hospital recorded no outpatient cases of cracker-related injuries.

Gandhi Hospital Superintendent Dr T Usha Rani said no firecracker injuries were reported at the hospital. Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) did not respond when contacted.

122 distress calls to fire services

The Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services received 122 Diwali-related distress calls from Sunday, November 8.

“We have received 122 distress calls related to Diwali since Sunday. The department has received 30 distress calls since Monday morning,” an official from the Telangana fire control room told Siasat.com.

According to the official, 49 of the calls came from across Hyderabad, and one major fire accident was reported from Secunderabad.

On Sunday, a firecracker shop in Chilkalguda caught fire while people were shopping for Diwali. Maula Ali Station Fire Officer (SFO) Krishna said the fire broke out at 11:40 am.

“The shop owners said that they had lit a diya for offering prayers. At the same time, there was a short circuit in the shop,” Krishna told Siasat.com. He said one fire engine was sent to put out the blaze. No one was injured, and the estimated loss is under investigation. 

Count still rising

The numbers may not have peaked yet. 

At Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital alone, the count has more than doubled in a day: from 32 on Sunday to 67 by Monday morning, and 74 by Monday afternoon. The hospital treated 116 and 115 cracker injury patients during the previous two Diwali seasons, and with celebrations expected to continue tonight, this year’s tally could come close. 

For the patients still awaiting surgery, the cost of one night’s celebration could be their eyesight.

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