Fourteen individuals sustained serious neck injuries from kite strings, known as manja, in Vadodara and its surrounding areas during the Uttarayan festival on Wednesday. The 108 emergency medical services reported a dramatic spike in distress calls throughout the day.
Emergency Response Under Pressure
Emergency teams worked tirelessly to provide timely medical assistance despite the overwhelming number of cases. They attended to a total of 363 emergency situations on Wednesday. This figure marks a significant jump from the normal daily average of 244 cases. The festival clearly placed immense strain on the region's emergency response systems.
Trauma Cases Lead the Surge
Trauma-related emergencies showed the most substantial increase. Non-vehicular trauma incidents, which include injuries from falls or accidents like those involving kite strings, skyrocketed from an average of 27 cases to 92. Vehicular trauma cases more than doubled, rising from the usual 39 to 88.
Other Medical Emergencies on the Rise
Several other categories of medical emergencies also saw moderate upticks. Calls for unknown medical problems increased from 40 to 52. Pregnancy-related cases went up from 43 to 48. Cardiac emergencies rose from 15 to 20. Convulsion-related incidents climbed to 10 from the normal average of eight.
Some Categories Witness Declines
A few types of emergencies actually decreased during the festival. Breathing-related cases dropped from an average of 27 to 20. Abdominal pain incidents fell from 25 to 14. Calls for diabetic and stroke-related emergencies experienced marginal declines as well.
Officials Cite Festive Activities
Authorities pointed to increased travel, festive celebrations, and greater public movement throughout the day as the primary reasons for the spike in emergencies. They strongly urged citizens to follow road safety rules and seek immediate medical help during large public gatherings.
Preparedness for the Festival
To handle the heightened demand, emergency services deployed a fleet of 60 ambulances along with trained medical personnel. These resources remained on duty around the clock to ensure continuous emergency care despite the heavy influx of calls during Uttarayan.
