A child has died and 269 people were treated for firecracker-related burn injuries across Tamil Nadu during the recent Deepavali festivities, according to official data released by state health authorities. The casualties were recorded during a 24-hour emergency window tracking public safety from 7 am on November 7 to 7 am on November 8.
To manage the heightened emergency load during the celebrations, the state 108 ambulance network remained on high alert, with 1,283 ambulances deployed across Tamil Nadu. During the designated 24-hour period, the emergency network received a total of 16,079 calls. Of these, 98 calls were specifically attributed to burn injuries, while the broader emergency response included 2,475 accident-related calls and 396 reports of minor injuries.
Government hospitals across the state reported a total of 1,387 inpatient admissions directly linked to the festive period. This figure comprised 956 admissions for general accidents, 321 for minor injuries or assaults, and 110 for burn-related trauma. Officials confirmed one fatality involving a child under the age of 15, marking the only burn-related death reported during the timeframe. No adult fatalities due to burns were recorded by the health department.
Demographic breakdowns of those treated for burns reveal that men were the most affected group, with 92 individuals treated as outpatients and 76 requiring inpatient hospital care. Children under 15 years old accounted for the second-highest demographic, with 48 outpatients and 17 inpatients. Adult women recorded 19 outpatient cases and 17 inpatient admissions. In total, the state-run medical system provided care for 159 outpatients and 110 inpatients suffering from burn injuries.
Several regional medical centres handled significant patient volumes as the celebrations peaked. The Thanjavur Government Medical College Hospital recorded the highest overall load for burns, accidents, and minor injuries, treating 36 outpatients and admitting 87 inpatients. Other facilities also saw a heavy influx of patients, with the Madurai Government Medical College Hospital treating six outpatients alongside 84 inpatient admissions, while the Chengalpattu Government Medical College Hospital managed 85 inpatient cases.
Further emergency data indicated that the Periyar Nagar Government Hospital attended to one outpatient and 64 inpatients, while the Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital provided care to 46 outpatients and 13 inpatients. The concentration of these admissions in specific district medical colleges reflects the geographic distribution of emergency cases handled by the state during the festival.
The deployment of emergency resources remains a standard operational procedure in Tamil Nadu during major festivals to mitigate risks associated with the use of firecrackers. While the state health department provided extensive medical support to address the injuries, the record of 269 burn victims highlights the persistent risks faced by the public during Deepavali, particularly for younger children and adult men who represented the primary demographics in the official medical reports.
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