Mumbai Marathon: 2,500 minor injuries, 11 hospitalised for severe dehydration

Mumbai was on its feet again with over 42,000 participants running three different races - 7km, 21km and 42km. As runners crossed the finish line to the beats of pulsating music and loud cheering of the thousands that gathered along the route, the Asian Heart Institute, official medical partner for the marathon declared that there were no casualties or serious injuries this year.

2,500 participants were treated for minor cramps, muscle sprain, exhaustion and dehydration and 11 were rushed to nearby hospitals - Bombay, Lilavati, Hinduja and Jaslok. All of them were discharged within a few hours. 

"The medical events this year were significantly less than last year. Also, there were no cardiac events," said Dr Vijay D’Silva, Medical Director at the Asian Heart Institute.

He attributed it to better qualification standards set for the runners by the organisation, early start to the race, comfortable atmospheric temperature compared to the last two years and well trained and informed runners.

There were 11 medical aid stations all along the route for any first aid requirements; 2 base camps (of 40 & 20 beds each) at the start/finish equipped to handle all emergencies.

The hospital deployed 11 cardiac ambulances (each with a doctor and a nurse to ply on the entire route). The team also had seven 'mobile medics' (doctors on motorbikes for the entire route).  Over 500 volunteers from the hospital, including doctors, nurses, paramedical and support staff were on duty.