Diwali Fallout: 15% Rise in Heart & Lung Disease Patients at AIIMS

While heart and lung disease patients have thronged to AIIMS post Diwali, fewer burn injuries have been reported.

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The aftermath of Diwali celebrations in New Delhi has left a spate of incidents involving accidents, injuries, and pollution-related illness. Despite the Supreme Court ban on the sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region, many areas continued to witness the bursting of firecrackers, leading to an overall decline in air quality, to say nothing of the suffering of many – especially those predisposed to cardio and respiratory disorders.

Also Read: Delhi Air Still ‘Very Poor’ Post Diwali, but Better Than 2016

Smoke from bursting of crackers has not only affected the air quality but also the lungs and hearts of many in Delhi, with a 15 percent rise in the number of patients visiting AIIMS due to cardio-pulmonary problems.

Night-long Diwali revelries caused the air quality to enter the ‘severe’ zone, triggering health complications. At the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), there was a rush of patients complaining of heart and breathing problems, as compared to the average number of people visiting the facility before the festival, doctors said.

There has been a 15 percent rise in the number of people visiting AIIMS after Diwali for cardio-pulmonary problems. And, in the next 24-48 hours, more patients can be expected with such health issues.

Randeep Guleria, Pulmonolgist and AIIMS Director to PTI

At the Safadarjung Hospital too, many patients turned up complaining of coughing and respiratory issues.

At the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where 15 cases of burn injuries were reported, four patients with breathing difficulties came to the casualty ward, the hospital authorities said.

Also Read: Mumbai’s Air Quality ‘Very Poor’ After Diwali

Fewer Eye, Burn Injuries Reported

The ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR may not have had the desired impact on air quality, but major hospitals in the capital reported a fewer number of burn and eye injury cases this Diwali than last year. Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital and RML Hospital, both of which have big burn units, received 66 and 29 patients respectively.

The Safdarjung Hospital, located in the heart of the city, had received 110 burn patients last Diwali, a senior doctor said.

Out of the 66 patients who came between 6 pm on Wednesday to 6 am on Thursday, 50 had suffered burn injuries during Diwali-related festivities. Five of them were admitted.

Senior Doctor, Safdarjung Hospital to PTI

At the RML Hospital, located in central Delhi, 29 people came to the casualty wards with burn injuries compared to the 79 patients last year.

Also Read: Air Quality Takes a Beating in Chennai Post Diwali Night

At AIIMS, 28 patients who had sustained burns in eyes or other ocular injuries, were brought in between 10 am on Wednesday (19 October) to 10 am today, said a senior doctor at the Dr RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences of the premier institution.

“...the cases reported last year were far higher; about 100,” he said.

The Delhi government’s largest hospital, the LNJP Hospital, received 10 patients for bodily injuries from fire-related incidents.

Since last evening (19 October) till 10 am today, 29 patients – 23 males and five females – with burn injuries, mainly related to hands and eyes, were attended to in the casualty department. Only one man who had suffered 27 percent injury was admitted.

Dr VK Tiwari, Medical Superintendent, RML Hospital to PTI

Only four of them needed admission, the extent of burn ranged from 10 percent in one patient to 60 percent in another. None had eye injuries, but only facial and limb injuries.

JC Passey, Medical Superintendent, LNJP Hospital to PTI

Many doctors feel that the Supreme Court ban on sale of crackers in Delhi-NCR may have contributed to the fewer cases of burns, both of body parts and eyes, reported at hospitals.

(With inputs from PTI)

Also Read: In Photos: How India Celebrated Diwali 2017