CHANDIGARH, 21.10.25-In view of the Diwali Festival and anticipation of many emergencies due to cracker injuries, the Advanced Eye Centre, PGIMER had made elaborate arrangements to ensure immediate treatment to the patients reporting to the emergency services.

Doctors,nursing staff and other allied staff were posted on special emergency duty round the clock from 20-10-2025 (8:00 am onwards) till 22-10-2025 (8:00 am).

A total of 26patients came to the Advanced Eye Centre during this period with alleged history of fire crackers injuries in 48 hours. There were 23 males and 3 females.13of the 26 patients (50%) were children ≤14 years of age, the youngest being 3 years old.

There were 14 patients from Tricity- 9 from Chandigarh and 5 from Mohali.[Chandigarh: (Dhanas-2, Sector-29, Sector-21-1, Sector 19-D-1, -1, Sector-26-1, Sector-52-1, Sector-28-1, New Chandigarh-1, Sector 38-1)].The remaining 12 patients were from the neighbouring states of Punjab (8), Haryana (1), Himachal Pradesh ().

11patients were observers/bystanders and the rest 15 were bursting crackers themselves.

Type of firecracker:Bomb -11; Rocket -3; Phuljhari -1;Sky Shot-4, Lantern candle wax – 1

Potash Gun-1

Out of 26 patients, 10patients needed surgeryand all have been operated upon.Nineteen (19) patientshad closed globe injuries out of which 4 have serious injuries.

7 patients reported to the Department of Plastic Surgery , PGI with injuries related to firecrackers. 3 patients had hand injuries because of firecrackers bursting in hand. 1 patient had facial injuries because of bursting firecrackers . All of these have been operated upon in ATC.1 patients who had less than 3 percent thermal burns and were discharged after treatment.
2 patients had major burns and are being managed in the Burn ICU and HDU under the Department of Plastic Surgery. Prof. Atul Parashar Head, Department of Plastic Surgery

Comparative data of previous years