Mumbai: Firecracker and diya-related accidents left over 60 people with burn injuries across Mumbai and MMR over Sunday and Monday, including two women who suffered critical 75% and 50% burns after their clothes caught fire in a diya. Hospitals across the city reported a surge in burn cases, with children accounting for nearly half of the firecracker-related injuries at the National Burns Centre in Airoli and most cases coming from Ghatkopar, Mulund, Navi Mumbai and Thane.
Many patients were treated at the Out Patient Department (OPD); most were admitted with 10 to 15% burns. At KEM Hospital alone, 11 patients were referred to the burns ward. Doctors from Sion, Cooper and Nair hospitals reported three, 16 and nine cases, respectively, all treated on an OPD basis. Dr Sunil Keswani, plastic surgeon and director at the National Burns Centre in Airoli, said of the 22 patients who arrived at his hospital over the past two days, 17 suffered firecracker-related injuries. He added that most firecracker-related accidents at his hospital were caused by anars (flowerpot crackers), leaving patients with 10% to 15% burns.
Some patients, including Chaukekar’s sister, remain admitted at KEM. Nearly half of them are children.
However, the exact number and condition of patients at KEM remain unclear as doctors in the hospital’s plastic surgery department declined to comment. KEM Dean Dr Harish Pathak was also unavailable for comment before press time.