Cracker injuries darkenfestival of lights'; many hospitalised in Karnataka

Bengaluru, Oct 31: Despite awareness drives regarding precautions to be taken while bursting crackers, the eye hospitals in major cities of Karnataka witnessed a steady stream of patients, mostly minors, with some sustaining serious injuries.

For the family of ten-year-old Varun from Chikkaballapur Chintamani, this Diwali turned out to be a nightmare. Varun was rushed to Minto hospital on Sunday afternoon, after he sustained injuries on both eyes.

He got injured while bursting crackers outside his house, after cracker particles entered both the eyes. According to Minto hospital authorities his condition was serious and has been hospitalised.

A ten-year-old girl Dharini too was admitted at Minto Hospital for a major eye injury. For 39-year-old Kavitha, her decision to take a stroll near her house in Kallahalli proved costly, as she was admitted to Minto hospital with a major eye injury.

There were at least 28 cases of firecracker-related injuries, ranging from minor burns to potentially permanent eye injuries, during Diwali celebrations in Bengaluru city alone.

Minto Eye Hospital saw four cracker-related injuries; three of those were children, one as young as 3. All were minor cases, with patients receiving out-patient care.

Twenty persons were treated for minor burns at Narayana Nethralaya in Ra jajinagar. Two kids were brought to MC Modi Charitable Eye Hospital in Mahalakshmipuram. Samprathi Eye Hospital and Squint Centre treated a five-year-old boy who injured his eyelid.

A majority of those injured were bystanders, indicating that firecrackers were burst on the streets, and not in demarcated safe areas.

Humans were not the only ones affected by crackers. Animals too suffered burns and hearing loss, stray dogs in particular. The Happy Paws Foundation rescued six crows from across the city, who had been burnt by crackers. While five are out of danger, one is critical. The foundation will travel around the city, locating and treating injured animals.