New Year’s eve casualties double

by Jayampathy Jayasinghe

The National Hospital of Sri Lanka recorded a 100 percent increase in the number of casualties yesterday, December 31, compared to the corresponding period in 2009, the Director of the Accident Service, Dr. Prasad Ariyawanse told the Sunday Observer. Of the 322 persons who sought treatment at the National hospital for injuries, 121 were admitted to hospital for further treatment.

Two persons who were admitted to the hospital succumbed to their injuries. They were victims of a road accident and an injury resulting from cuts, he said.

Meanwhile, 94 road accidents, 40 injuries due to violence, 43 due to falling from heights and 11 injuries due to lighting of fire crackers were also reported.

In the corresponding period in 2009, 203 persons sought treatment at the National Hospital of the 67 persons who were admitted for further treatment.

There were 67 road accidents, 19 injuries due to violence and 13 fire cracker injuries. The overall figure of the number of people who sought treatment at the National Hospital in 2010 was 87,723 compared to 104,955 in 2010, an increase of 16 percent.