Possibility of banning firecrackers

Emergency was imposed in three hospitals of the city after the tragic incident of burning of a bus boarding people coming to their homes after attending a marriage ceremony at the Gulshan Ravi on Sunday.
On the instructions of the Chief Minister Punjab Ch Pervaiz Elahi, free of cost treatment will be provided to all the injured patients – mostly suffering from burn injuries.
This is a risky phenomenon, especially at the marriage ceremonies, and there is a possibility of initiating legislation in the provincial assembly of banning the production and usage of firecrackers.
This was told by Punjab Health Minister Dr. Tahir Ali Javed, while talking to mediamen at the Mayo Hospital. He said emergency had been imposed at Mayo Hospital, Services Hospital and the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. “Staff of the three Hospitals, both senior and junior, have been asked to make their availability certain at these institutes. All the senior doctors are here, and the patients are being provided free of cost and one-to-one treatment,” he said, adding that every possible effort would be made to save the lives of the burnt patients. “Three patients are critical because more than 50 percent of their bodies are burnt. In Summers, even 40 percent is life threatening because of the more chances of dehydration and infection,” he said.
Dr. Tahir was apprised about the situation by Prof Mumtaz Hassan, who told that one doctor and a staff nurse had been deputed on each patient.
District Coordination Officer of the city Khalid Sultan and SSP Operations Aamer Zulfiqar also reached the Mayo Hospital. While talking to the mediamen, Khalid Sultan said it was a mishandling incident. “Fireworks not dangerous till it is not mishandled. If one is adopting the required manner of preparing and storing of the explosive preparation, such incidents do not happen,” he added. While answering a question, he said no legal action would be taken against the injured.
The Mayo Hospital administration reached the Accident and Emergency Ward immediately prior to the arrival of the survivors. Chief Executive of the Hospital and Principal King Edward Medical College Prof Mumtaz Hassan, Officiating Medical Superintendent Prof Abdul Majeed Chaudhry, and senior professors various departments reached the Hospital.
Provincial Minister IT Abdul Aleem Khan, Parliamentary Secretary Health Dr. Farzana Nazir and EDO (Health) Hafiz Abdul Qayyum were also present on the occasion.
December 11, 2005