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| Sunday, 21 April 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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A doctor recalls the Pettah bomb blast Dr. B.J. Masakorala It was barely a week after the Sinhala and Hindu New Year, (when virtually the whole country is on holiday) on the 21st April 1987 and life was slowly returning to normal, that my wife and I decided on a shopping expedition. We had proceeded less than a mile when my 'Pager', registered an urgent summons to me, to get to the Accident Service of the Colombo General hospital without delay. The sight that met our eyes, near and around the precincts of the hospital was one of chaos and confusion, a Dantean scene, with the dead, near dead, the dying and the maimed, being brought in their numbers by ambulance, van, car and cab by anonymous Samaritans. As the Triage Officer on this day, it was my responsibility to separate the dead and 'group' the injured. The cause of the mayhem was the explosion of a car bomb at 5.20 p.m. at the main bus stand at Pettah, when peaceful hardworking people, men and women, were awaiting with stoic patience their turn to board over crowded buses and vans, to wend their weary way home. The car bomb exploded at this crowded venue killing 111 people: 79 of them dying at the scene and on their way to the hospitals, a further 25 dying within 30 minutes of admission, and 7 after treatment at the hospital. The injuries were due to: 1. The primary effect of the bomb; the blast, the flash and sharpnel. 2. Secondary effects brought about by collapsing buildings, flying debris and fires from exploding petrol tanks of vehicles. The wards of the "Accident Service" had to bear the intrusion and thrust of 63 bodies, 25 dying patients and 249 injured within a space of 30 to 45 minutes. Naturally this created administrative and primary management problems which were sorted out with the ingenuity of all Medical and Paramedical staff who were available at that time. In this time of crisis bureaucratic rules and other obstructions were done away with, so much so there were no registration formalities for the victims.The Director of the Hospital who worked as tirelessly as the others arranged for a Medical Ward to treat those with mild and moderate injuries. While the dead and those who died within the first 30 minutes were counted, Registration of the rest commenced the following morning; data sheets were prepared and attached to the clinical notes of all the patients. These sheets listed the name, age, sex, registration number, the nature of injury and any other details collected by doctors attached to the unit of the Triage officer. It needs be mentioned that these sheets are preserved. A few of the injured however would have left before registration and hence the count of admission is probably more than recorded. The bomb The time of the explosion was estimated to be 5.20 p.m. on 21st April 1987 when the bus stand was crowded to capacity with pavement vendors selling their wares in addition to normal commuters thronging the site. While there were a number of parked buses and other vehicles, the collapsing buildings and flying glass and stone acted as missiles supplementary to the direct effect of the explosion. Immediate rescue operation There is no information of any rescue operation at the site of the disaster. The dead, dying and injured were packed in every available vehicle and as mentioned earlier were rushed to the Accident Service of the General Hospital Colombo, without any form of resuscitation being done in transit. Extent of the disaster The horrific nature of the human cost of the explosion. Table 1 - Categories of the Dead 1. No. of bodies brought direct to the medico-legal Morgue 16 2. No. of bodies brought to the Accident Service of the Colombo 63 General Hospital 3. No. dying during the first 30-45 minutes 25 4. Dead after treatment 07 Total 111 No. of injured who were treated in hospital:- 1. Total No of Registered patients 249 Male 211 Female 38 Table 3 - Causes of deaths - Result of post mortem examination 1. Burns 17 2. Cranio-facial injuries 36 3. Multiple injuries 30 4. Shock and haemorrhage 17 5. Heamopulmothorax... 05 6. Heamopericardium... 01 7. Decapitation 02 8. Constricted lung 01 9. Shock 01 Total 111 The sheer magnitude of this bomb explosion horrified all right thinking people in the world. The exceptions of course were those who have been misinformed by this inhuman organisation and their sympathisers about the legitimacy of their demands, and their very presence as a political force in Sri Lanka. The fact that order was resorted from a scene of utter confusion at the Accident Service is testimony to the diligence of the surgeons, medical consultants, house officers, nurses, attendants and indeed all the other staff of the general hospital and the unknown volunteers who helped and cared for the victims to the best of their ability. It is said that a Leopard will not change its spots and also that many wolves wear sheeps' clothing; in this context it is hoped that the LTTE Tiger will discard its stripes and also attire itself with a desired apparel that signifies Peace now and forever. |
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