Chandigarh, Oct 23 — The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) reported 53 new firecracker-related injuries since Tuesday morning, taking the total number of Diwali-linked cases in Chandigarh to 368, hospital officials said.
Of the latest injuries, 43 were eye-related and 10 involved burns, according to data shared by the Advanced Eye Centre and the Department of Plastic Surgery.
The Advanced Eye Centre has recorded 69 eye injury cases so far. Between 8 a.m. on October 20 and 8 a.m. on October 21, 26 cases were reported, followed by 30 cases on Tuesday and another 13 by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Among the 30 cases logged Tuesday, 27 were men and three women. “Seventeen were self-inflicted, while 13 involved bystanders,” said hospital authorities. Eleven patients were from Chandigarh, six from Punjab, five each from Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, and three from Uttar Pradesh.
Doctors said 13 patients had closed-globe injuries and 17 had open-globe injuries. Most suffered unilateral eye damage, while two sustained injuries in both eyes. The victims included 18 children and 12 adults, aged between five and 58. Two patients have already undergone surgery, and two more procedures are pending.
“This surge in eye injuries during Diwali is deeply unfortunate,” said Dr. S.S. Pandav, head of ophthalmology and the Advanced Eye Centre at PGIMER. “Despite repeated awareness drives, many—especially children—continue to suffer sight-threatening but preventable injuries. We urge parents to supervise children closely and avoid hazardous firecrackers.”
Meanwhile, the plastic surgery department reported 17 burn and blast injuries this Diwali—seven earlier and 10 new on Wednesday. Among them, seven suffered hand injuries, three had facial burns, and two sustained foot injuries needing orthoplastic care. Five patients underwent surgery at the trauma centre, while five with minor burns were treated and discharged.
