Diwali celebrations turned sour for many families in the city and adjoining areas, as more than 160 people were rushed to city hospitals with cracker related injuries last night.

While most of the injuries were minor in nature, 17-year-old Sangrur resident Sukhwinder Singh may lose his vision. Sukhwinder is admitted at PGI.

“The patient is not responding to light. We will be able to comment on his condition only after a surgery on Monday,” a doctor at PGI said.

Most of the patients were discharged after treatment. “A majority of the cases were minor in nature and were given first-aid. There have been no admissions at GMSH-16,” said Dr N K Arora, Medical Superintendent at GMSH-16.

At GMCH-32, 14-year-old Kurukshetra resident Kuldeep is still admitted with a severe injury in the eye.

This year, the number of people injured in Diwali celebrations was slightly higher than last year when 145 victims were reported.

Like in previous years, several victims were onlookers. “I was adjusting lights on my terrace when a rocket hit my eye. I was in severe pain when my family rushed me to PGI around 2.30 am,” 22-year-old Ram Gulshan, who lives in Ludhiana, said. “The celebrations at home were affected, but I am relieved that after surgery my vision would be restored.”

At PGI’s Eye department, patients kept pouring in till Sunday afternoon. Ten-year-old Ansh from Chandigarh and 32-year-old Om Prakash from Bilaspur were among those who received serious eye injuries and were operated upon.

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