On average, 166 civilians injured daily; nearly 10,000 wounded in 2 months
While over 750 of injured civilians were hit by pellets in eyes, with many of them facing blindness, another 343 persons suffered bullet
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MUDDASIR ALI
Srinagar, Publish Date: Sep 8 2016 12:31AM | Updated Date: Sep 8 2016 12:31AM
Photo: Aman Farooq/GK
At least 166 civilians have been on an average injured in forces’ action every day in Kashmir since the ongoing uprising started on July 9, while hospitals across the region have treated over 10,000 persons with firearm and other types of injuries during this period, data analyzed by Greater Kashmir has revealed.
While over 750 of injured civilians were hit by pellets in eyes, with many of them facing blindness, another 343 persons suffered bullet
injuries and more than 4500 persons were treated for pellet injuries in body parts (other than eyes). The injured included those also who were hit by shells, stones or had suffered “assault by forces”.
Official data revealed that 3910 injured civilians were treated in Srinagar hospitals alone—almost double the number of injured the hospitals had received during the first month of uprising following Wani’s killing in an encounter in southern Kokernag village on July 8.
At SMHS hospital, more than 1930 injured persons were treated since July 9, including 660 persons who were hit by pellets in their eyes, said a doctor. Of these, at least 31 persons were hit by pellets in both eyes while another 15 persons “lost one eye at the spot.”
Besides, 719 persons with extra ocular pellet injuries (injuries in body parts other than eyes) were also treated at the hospital.
The SHMS hospital, the largest general specialty hospital in Kashmir, has seen the highest number of injured persons. It has set two additional Operation Tables in Trauma Theater to handle the “emergency situation” while doctors and surgeons, mostly in Ophthalmology Department, have been working extra hours to treat the injured.
What indicates the scale of injuries is that the hospital has conducted 1615 surgeries during these two months, including of 82 bullet injury cases, all related to current uprising, apart from scheduled surgeries,” said another doctor.
But it is the pellet injuries in eyes—an injury after every second hour during a day since July 9—apart from killings and bullet injuries, which have caught the attention in Kashmir and beyond.
At Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) here, of total 320 persons received with firearm and other injuries, 122 were hit by pellets while 41 persons had bullet injuries. The hospital also treated 44 persons hit by stones and another 40 persons having shell injuries. Besides, it also received 55 cases of assault by forces and performed 52 major and 255 minor surgeries during the period, said a senior doctor at SKIMS, which largely treats very critical patients.
At SKIMS Medical College at Bemina, 561 persons with firearm and other types of injuries were treated during the period, including 30 and 107 civilians with bullet and pellet injuries, as per the official records.
“Seven persons with pellet injuries in both eyes were also received at the hospital during this period,” said a doctor there. “The hospital performed 86 eye surgeries and 125 ‘other surgeries’.”
183 injured civilians—88 bullet injury cases and 32 pellet injury cases—were treated at Bone & Joints hospital apart from those who had been “beaten by forces”. The hospital conducted 158 major and minor surgeries during the period. “The hospital received 43 cases of beating as well,” said a doctor.
The data compiled by the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir shows that more than 7680 civilians with firearm and other types of injuries—more than double the number of injured (3400) received during the first month of uprising since July 9—were received at different district and sub-district hospitals and other health centers run by the Directorate
“At least 6640 injured persons were treated at district level alone, with more than 1000 injured referred to Srinagar hospitals for advanced treatment,” said an official.
In south Kashmir’s Anantnag (Islamabad) district—the home district of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti—more than 1100 civilians were treated at district hospital since the protests began on July 8. In Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts, 1160, 867 and 1017 civilians injured in forces’ action during the period were received at the respective district hospitals.
In central Kashmir Budgam and Ganderbal districts, 710 and 162 civilians were injured during the protests while in north Kashmir’s Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara districts, the number of injured persons treated at the respective district hospitals is: 977, 712 and 760. Besides, 143 persons from Srinagar were treated in health institutes run by the Directorate.
“The injured included around 4000 persons who had suffered pellet injuries apart from 113 persons with bullet injuries,” said an official. He said 81 major surgeries and 3045 minor surgeries related to injuries during the ongoing uprising were also conducted in the district hospitals during the period.
“Apart from killings, 2016 will be remembered for scale of pellet injuries particularly the eye injuries resulting from the pellets,” said a doctor.
He said the hospitals across Kashmir performed more than 5700 surgeries - both major and minor—all related to the uprising.
.you will lose on that front tooo
