Sirens blaring, Police Control Room vans and ambulances rushed to the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital on Wednesday, carrying the injured and the dead from the blast site at the Delhi High Court, and the waiting paramedics swung into action. Almost all victims were covered in blood and badly injured, and their clothes torn.
The doctors took charge of the patients being brought in even as distraught family members also poured in, shock and anxiety writ large on their faces.
“Patients were brought in almost immediately after the blast and we have taken in 57 patients, of whom nine were brought dead and two died in the hospital. Most of the people have been brought with shrapnel injuries, head and limb injuries and flesh wounds. Some of the patients with us are serious and needed surgery. We are making all efforts to ensure that medical help is provided to everyone being brought,” said a senior health official.
“A majority of the victims have received injuries in the lower limbs, the pelvic area and abdomen, and many of them are suffering temporary hearing impairment. At the RML Hospital, 15 people were in surgical emergency and 36 admitted to the orthopaedics surgery department. We have issued instructions to all Delhi hospitals not to refuse treatment to any person injured in the blast,'' said Union Minister of State for Health Sudip Bandyopadhyay after he took stock of the situation at the RML Hospital.
Even after an hour of the blast which occurred at 10.34 a.m. the injured continued to be brought to the hospital, with paramedics struggling to clean the blood drenched stretchers for the new admissions amid sudden thunder showers. The Delhi Police cordoned off part of the hospital to ensure that patients could be brought in without delay and provided immediate medical care.
Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi were among those who visited the injured in the hospital.
Slogans against Rahul
Relatives of some of the victims shouted slogans against Mr. Gandhi, asking him to go back. “Delhiites don't want to live in terror. It is always the common man who has to bear the brunt of terrorism. The government has to take a tough stand against those who are benefiting from spreading terrorism. We want to live in peace, bring up our children and die with dignity,” said Mumtaz from Daryaganj, who lost her father in the blast.
“I remember standing at the reception outside the High Court and suddenly there was this loud sound and then there was just confusion; somebody yelled that there has been blast and after that I am not sure what happened. I was brought to the hospital and given first aid. Bits and pieces of my skin came off and stuck on my clothes which frightened my family members,'' said Dilbag Rai, who was said to be under shock but stable.
Indian Red Cross Society blood bank director Vanshree Singh has said government hospitals are not facing blood shortage. “We issued 50 units to the RML hospital this morning and have assured all the government hospitals of adequate supply of blood.”
