Mysuru:  Four persons sustained  injuries in their eyes and hands while bursting fire crackers at various places in the district during Deepavali festival celebrations.

The injured have been identified as 39-year-old Mahesh of Hinkal, 15-year-old Preetham of Gayatripuram,  Puttabuddhi of Metagalli and five year-old Mahesh of Hegganahalli in K.R. Nagar taluk.

They were treated at the Ophthalmology Department at K.R Hospital and discharged later. Doctors said that the injuries were not serious.

Special ward

Meanwhile, Dr.M. Srinivas, Medical Superintendent of K. R. Hospital, told Star of Mysore that a Special Ward with 25 beds is kept ready at the Hospital to treat emergency cases related to injuries due to crackers.

This ward will work round the clock, he said and added that 10 doctors and 25 residential staff have been deputed to treat patients from 9 am to 4 pm and  four doctors and nurses will work from the evening.

The Eye Hospital is equipped with all medicines and other facilities to ensure proper treatment to the patients.  

He said that cracker related injury cases have seen a decline this year when compared to previous years in the district following Supreme Court directions on bursting fire crackers on specific timings.

No cases registered in city: DCP N. Vishnuvardhana

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) N. Vishnuvardhana clarified that the City Police have not registered any cases related to violation of Supreme Court Order on bursting fire crackers during Deepavali celebrations in city.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, he said that Mysureans celebrated the festival by abiding the  directions of Supreme Court. On Oct. 23, the Supreme Court had imposed restrictions on the use and sale of crackers in an attempt to control rising levels of air and sound pollution across India. The Court had restricted bursting of crackers for two hours. It had also said that crackers should be sold by vendors with proper licences.

The Apex Court had also directed the Police to ensure that there was no sale of banned crackers and in case of any violation, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the jurisdictional Police Station of the area would be held liable which would amount to  contempt of Court.