Many people were hurt in firecracker accidents across the Chandigarh region on Diwali night.
At least 303 people were injured in Chandigarh, 32 in Panchkula and 27 in Mohali.
people injured
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
Among the injured were children as young as six. Hospitals treated them from Sunday night until Monday morning.
Key points
- At least 303 people were injured by firecrackers in Chandigarh on Diwali night.
- At PGIMER, 15 patients had emergency eye surgeries on Sunday night.
- Authorities said this year's total was lower than the 363 injuries reported last Diwali.
- People with hearing problems after loud firecracker noise can text PGIMER's helpline within 24 hours.
How many people were hurt, and where?
Government Multi-Specialty Hospital in Sector 16, Chandigarh, reported the most cases.
It treated 87 burn injuries and 29 eye injury cases.
In Panchkula, at least 32 people were taken to Civil Hospital in Sector 6.
Eleven of them were children aged between six and 15.
In Mohali, the Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences reported 27 burn cases.
Ten of these patients had eye injuries.
Why are doctors worried about the eyes?
Dr Faisal Thattaruthody, an additional professor at the Advanced Eye Centre in PGIMER, spoke about the surgeries.
He said all of them were major, and they were done right after patients arrived.
He said vision recovery is difficult after such surgery. There is also a risk of complete loss of sight.
He said it will take two to three months to know the full damage.
Usually, the centre sees 65 to 75 eye injury cases during Diwali.
What happens next for injured people?
Doctors said the number of eye cases could rise. Referral cases may keep arriving for at least a week.
PGIMER has also set up helpline numbers for people with hearing loss, deafness, ringing or a blocked feeling in the ears after firecracker noise.
They should send a text message within 24 hours to 070870 09764 or 094656 67171 for early treatment.
Explainer
What happened before
- Authorities said the total number of injuries this Diwali was lower than the 363 reported during Diwali last year.
- The eye centre at PGIMER usually sees 65 to 75 eye injury cases during Diwali.
Why it matters
Firecracker accidents can cause burns, eye damage and hearing loss, and families need to know where to get quick help.
What to watch next
- Doctors say the referral cases may keep coming for at least a week, so the eye injury count can rise.
- People with hearing loss, ringing or a blocked feeling in the ears can text PGIMER's helpline within 24 hours.
