Patna: Road accidents and festival-related incidents on Holi led to a sharp rise in admissions at hospitals in Patna, with the largest number of injured patients arriving at the city’s main trauma centre. Officials said emergency preparations helped prevent fatalities, though wards were crowded throughout the day.
The highest caseload was reported at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), where 25 patients were treated for injuries largely caused by road accidents. Another 12 patients were admitted to Gardner Hospital and nine to Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS). Most injuries affected the hands, legs and head, according to hospital staff.
The state health department had issued an alert before Holi, anticipating a rise in accidents, allergic reactions to colours and interpersonal violence. Extra beds were reserved in emergency wards and additional medical teams placed on standby.
Doctors at PMCH’s emergency unit worked through the day treating accident victims, some with serious head trauma. A specialised medical team was also deployed at IGIMS to manage patients suffering from colour allergies and eye irritation, while the administration ensured adequate supplies of medicines and equipment. At Gardner Hospital, many of the admissions involved motorcycle crashes.
PMCH superintendent Dr Rajiv Kumar Singh said the hospital had been placed on full alert. “Additional doctors and nursing staff were deployed so that emergencies could be handled without delay,” he said.
Health department officials stated that emergency services across medical colleges and district hospitals remained operational 24 hours a day, with surgical teams on standby if required. Ambulance services were also placed on high alert and deployed on main roads to transport injured people quickly to medical facilities.
Civil surgeon Dr Yogendra Prasad Mandal said Patna’s health infrastructure was prepared to deal with any surge in cases during the festival period. Teams of doctors remained on duty round the clock to respond to injuries arising from accidents or festival-related incidents.
Preparations had been made in advance, including stocking blood banks and reserving additional beds in trauma and emergency units. Although hospitals experienced heavy pressure, authorities reported that most patients were discharged after treatment and were not in critical condition.
