Skull Fractures Brain Injuries And A Death Pgimer Details Human Cost Of Ignoring Storm Warnings

nked to road accidents, flying debris, falls and electrocution incidents during the storm.

Doctors at PGIMER said several patients suffered skull fractures, brain haemorrhages, major orthopaedic injuries and other life-threatening trauma, prompting a fresh appeal to residents to heed official weather advisories.

“A storm warning is not just a forecast, it is a safety advisory,” said Dr Rajesh Chhabra, Professor, Department of Neurosurgery. He added that many of the injuries treated that night could have been prevented had people avoided unnecessary travel and taken adequate precautions.

Among the injured was 52-year-old Avtar Singh, who suffered a subdural haematoma, a fractured jaw and a fractured humerus after his motorcycle skidded during the storm. He is undergoing surgery.

Another 52-year-old, Harikesh, who was allegedly riding a motorcycle without a helmet, sustained a depressed skull fracture and a frontal bone fracture after hitting an electric pole when strong winds reportedly caused his head to strike the structure.

A 20-year-old, Ramesh Kumar, suffered a depressed frontal bone fracture after his motorcycle skidded. Thirteen-year-old Damanjay sustained serious head injuries when a tin shed, blown away by strong winds, struck him on the head. Doctors diagnosed him with a temporal contusion, epidural haematoma and temporal bone fracture.

In one of the most severe cases, 14-year-old Mirav was brought to the hospital deeply unconscious after allegedly slipping and falling in the rain. Doctors reported a global cerebral infarct and described his prognosis as very poor.

Several other patients required surgical intervention. Varinder, 40, suffered a degloving injury to his left hand after falling from a two-wheeler and was admitted for surgery. Seventeen-year-old Jashan Lal sustained multiple open fractures in a road accident involving two motorcycles and was shifted to the operation theatre.

The storm also led to burn injuries. Mukesh Kumar was admitted under the Plastic Surgery department after his hand allegedly came in contact with a high-voltage wire, resulting in burns.

Doctors also reported one fatality. Omi Dev, who was involved in a road accident during the storm, was brought to the hospital with multiple fractures and severe head injuries but succumbed to his injuries.

Dr Chhabra said weather advisories are based on scientific assessment and are intended to prevent such incidents.

“When authorities advise people to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, seek shelter and exercise caution, these instructions should be taken seriously,” he said.

He urged residents to avoid non-essential travel during severe weather alerts, refrain from riding two-wheelers during storms, wear helmets, stay away from electric poles and overhead wires, and seek shelter immediately during strong winds, lightning and heavy rain.