The widespread concern raised over the safety of Govindas who risk their lives forming human pyramids to break the dahi handi seems to have had a positive impact. Around ------- Govindas were admitted in hospitals across Mumbai, much lower than last year, when 365 Govindas were admitted. Most of them had sustained fractures on the hands, legs and back, or head injuries.
Shockingly however, in spite of the Supreme Court's under 12 ban, an 8-year-old boy from Dharavi suffered head injuries while participating in dahi handi. He was admitted to the BMC-run LTMG Sion Hospital. However, to avoid penal action, the family took him home against the doctor's consent.
One person died and another was paralysed last week while practicing for the festival.
Dr Avinash Supe, dean of the LTMG Sion Hospital said, "Sachin Patwa, 8, was brought to us this morning with haematoma (swelling) in the brain. He was advised by the doctor to get admitted but his parents didn't allow it and took him home." Sixteen patients were admitted to Sion Hospital for treatment. Pravin Yadav, 19, a resident of Kalwa is critical and in ICU. "He sustained grievous head injuries. He was referred to us from Kalwa's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital," said Dr Supe.
Yadav's cousin Naresh said that he was positioned on the pyramid's second-tier when he fell. "We rushed him to Shivaji hospital but they did not have CT Scan facility and transferred us to Sion Hospital. He had not practised before participating," said Naresh.
Parel's KEM hospital saw the highest number of patients: 67. Sunil Sajgane, 38, of Durga Maata Mandal in Sewri injured his skull. "I fell from the second tier," Sajgane told dna.
"All 67 patients were evaluated in casualty, of which 59 were treated on an Outpatient Department basis for minor injuries and discharged. Eight are admitted, of which four need surgery," said Dr Shubhangi Parker, dean, KEM Hospital.
"One of the admitted patients suffered a hip dislocation, another had an ankle fracture. Another had a spine fracture but luckily he has no deficit of sensation or weakness in the limbs," said Dr Pradip Bhosle, head, orthopaedic department at KEM Hospital.
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