Deepavali festival: No fatalities during festivities; in-patients recovering well, says Ma Su

CHENNAI: As many as 22 outpatients and four inpatients were attended to at the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital during the Deepavali festivities on Thursday, while more than 20 patients were admitted for burn injuries and more than 250 were treated as outpatients in government hospitals across the State.

The inpatients included two children who received 11 per cent and 12 per cent burns, respectively. Dean of the hospital Dr P Leo David said no major burns or fire injury cases have been reported. Most of the cases are of minor burns and are being treated, with the inpatients expected to recover in a few days.

Health minister Ma Subramanian inspected the special burns ward at the Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital and interacted with patients. He said most of the patients are likely to be discharged in a day or two as their burns are not major.

“About 20 people are receiving treatment at government hospitals for Deepavali-related injuries across Tamil Nadu. There have been no reports of fatalities in the city, making this a relatively safe Deepavali,” he noted. Elsewhere, five people are undergoing treatment at the Madurai Government Hospital, with one person suffering 20 per cent burns; Thanjavur saw six cases of burns, and Tiruchy reported three. All the patients are undergoing treatment. The health minister attributed the low number of injuries and zero fatalities to the awareness campaigns and safety measures put in place by the government.