Holi day: Lko receives maximum ambulance service calls in UP
LUCKNOW: Holi revelry led to a spike in injury incidents in the city. On the day of celebrations, the 108 ambulance service received 177 emergency calls -far more than the average count and the highest received by any city in UP. Other cities that followed close behind were Gorakhpur (164 calls), Hardoi (162), Kheri (155 ) and Barabanki (149).
“All these were distress or emergency calls received during Holi. Statistically, these were 10% more than what we get on usual days,” said Ajay Yadav, head, IEC & media communication, GVK emergency management and research institute that runs the ambulance service in UP.
Overall in the state, 46,800 ambulance service calls were received against the average of 37,500. The maximum calls (1,339) calls were in connection with vehicular injuries or trauma, which, on normal days, averages at 769. Besides, the number of patients showing up at hospital emergencies was also higher than usual. “We got two cases of eye injuries today (Saturday). These patients got injured while playing with colours a day earlier,” said Dr Hemant Kumar, head of the Abhinav Drishti Eye Hospital.
At the KGMU trauma centre, 178 of the total 373 patients who turned up were road accident victims. “In all, 109 were admitted for various health problems,” said Dr Sandip Tiwari, head, trauma centre. “The main reason behind such accidents during festivities
is driving without helmet after consuming alcohol. Helmet is a safety gear and all twowheeler riders should wear it to avoid injury, especially head injury,” said Dr Tiwari.
At Balrampur hospital, 30 injury cases were treated, while at Civil hospital, 126 patients received treatment. 178 patients showed up at Lohia hospital, 148 at Lok Bandhu hospital, and 9 at Rani Laxmi Bai hospital.