New Delhi/Srinagar: The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday rushed a three- member team of eye specialists from AIIMS in New Delhi to Jammu and Kashmir to assist the state in treating people who have been injured following violent unrest after killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.
“Health Minister J.P. Nadda has directed a three-member high-level team of eye specialists from AIIMS in New Delhi to be sent to Jammu and Kashmir to assist the state in providing medical care to the persons injured in the on-going law and order problem in the State,” an official statement said adding that the team has reached the state.
Over 150 persons including young boys and girls, including those in the 5-10 age group, have suffered eye injuries mainly in pellet gun firings.
Ophthalmologists have conducted 97 surgeries for such patients during the past five days at Srinagar’s government-run Sri Maharaj Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital alone. A total number of 111 patients with eye injuries were admitted in this hospital since July 9 and 47 of them have been sent home after successful surgeries. However, the condition of 22 to 30 victims in said to be “bad” .
“We are doing our best but I am sorry to say that five of them have already lost their vision and there is no chance of any recovery. Regarding the rest, we have not lost hope,” said a senior ophthalmologist at the SMHS on condition of anonymity.
The Chief Minister on Wednesday sought services of eye surgeons from Delhi for treating the patients who are in danger of losing their eyesight after getting hit by pellets.
