SKIMS trauma ward witnessed increased load in June due to agitation

Srinagar, Jul 12 (UNI) The trauma ward in the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) witnessed an increase in the number of patients during the month of June because of the about one-week-long clashes between police and agitators, who were protesting against the transfer of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

Six people were killed and more than 500 people, including police and CRPF personnel were injured in these clashes in almost all parts of the valley from June 23.

According to figures available the Accident and Emergency Department of SKIMS received, 3995 patients for management in Critical Care Sickness with various disorders.

Out of these 3995 patients, 2281 needed hospitalisation.

It said during this period, 117 patients of Trauma Head were attended to by the Department of Neurosurgery. In addition, scores of people with abdominal trauma, chest trauma and Poly Trauma were managed, the report said.

A good number of Yatris referred from base camps of Pahalgam and Balthal were also received and treated during this period.

During this period, more than 250 CT scans and hundreds of ultrasounds where performed.

Director SKIMS Dr Abdul Hamid Zargar said, ''We are well placed to look after these patients, but given the quantum of the emergency load, quality at times suffers.'' This huge increase also at times created security, sanitation and administrative hassles. Inspite of a relatively high number of patients with trauma, mortality was almost negligible, he added.

During this period, when on the one hand SKIMS authorities were preparing to be in a state of maximum preparedness, on the other hand SKIMS ambulances were targeted during stone pelting.

But he expressed his gratitude to the public at large and the media for their help to overcome this problem.

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