Diwali celebrations turned sour for over 150 families in the tricity as a large number of people reported to hospitals with injuries inflicted by firecrackers on Tuesday night. PGI said eight of its patients had lost vision in one eye, while three patients at the GMCH-32 may meet also a similar fate. On the other hand, a 32-year-old woman, Sharda Devi, is battling for her life after receiving 90 per cent burns.

At GMSH-16, all 50 burns and 18 eye injury victims were discharged after first aid.

Most of the victims were either children or bystanders.

Doctors at GMCH said the condition of Sharda Devi, a resident of industrial area Phase II, Panchkula, was “extremely critical”.

Her son Sanjay said Sharda received injuries when her silk sari caught fire after a cracker hit her. She was watching her two sons light crackers when the accident occurred.

“My younger brother and I were playing with firecrackers and my mother was standing behind us. One of the crackers went in a wrong direction accidentally and hit her,” said Sanjay.

Apart from Sharda, 23 other burns patients reported to the GMCH but all of them were discharged by 8 am on Wednesday. “Most of the injuries were not severe and the patients were discharged after first aid,” said Dr Vineet.

Thirteen patients with injuries in their eyes reported to the hospital. Three of them are still undergoing treatment. “They have sustained severe injuries and there could be chances of vision loss in one eye, which can be confirmed in the coming few days,” added the doctor.

PGI saw firecracker victims being referred to it from far-flung areas of Punjab, UP and Haryana.

In all, 23 cases were reported in the last 48 hours at the Advanced Eye Centre. Doctors confirmed that eight patients who were operated upon had lost vision in one eye.

Vikram, 22, who was referred to the PGI from Bathinda, is one of them. “He was standing next to his friend who was lighting an anar (flowerpot). The cracker burst prematurely and my son sustained injuries in his right eye,” said Krishan Lal, Vikram’s father. His brother said: “I will stay away from crackers for the rest of my life. I feel now the government should completely ban crackers.”

Prince Kumar, 21, was another patient who was operated upon at the PGI. He came all the way from Bijnaur in UP for the treatment of his damaged right eye, which was hit by a misdirected firecracker.

Nine-year-old Akash’s face was burnt when a bomb exploded in his hand. Vivek, 10, from Patiala and Amit, 25, from Khuda Lahora are the other victims who are likely to lose their vision in one eye. Kanwaljeet Kaur received injury in her left eye when she was pulling her son away from the crackers. She, too, may lose vision in the eye.

“Most of the patients are in the age group of 8 to 15 years. The most common cause of the injuries was bombs, followed by rockets and flowerpots. In the severe injury cases, we found pieces of plastic and nails completely rupturing the inside of the eyes,” said Dr Amit Gupta, PGI. Seven patients reported to the burns unit of PGI last night.

In Panchkula, a few patients reported to the General Hospital in Sector 6 with minor injuries and were discharged after first aid.

Mohali saw 23 children and adults reporting to hospitals with burns. The condition of two of them is said to be serious.

The Mohali Civil Hospital received 10 burns cases, said Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr H S Sarang. They were treated and discharged by a team of five specialist doctors on emergency duty.

At Kharar Civil Hospital, 13 burns cases were reported, of which two were referred to the PGI while two others were admitted. The rest were discharged after treatment, said SMO Dr Jai Singh.

Scuffles leave one dead, several injured