Rescue services head perturbed by accidents on Eid days

LAHORE: Punjab Rescue 1122 Director General (DG) Dr Rizwan Naseer expressed serious concern over the increasing number of road traffic crashes during Eid holidays. He expressed these views during a meeting at the emergency service’s headquarters on Saturday. The accidents claimed 55 lives and left 7,284 injured.

In total, the Punjab Emergency Service responded to 15,355 emergencies and rescued 15,909 victims in all 36 districts of the province during the Eidul Fitr holidays. The emergency ambulances, rescue and fire services responded to 6,086 road traffic crashes, 7,129 medical emergencies, 440 crime incidents, 388 fire incidents, 36 drowning incidents and 1,039 other emergencies including delivery cases, falls from a height, electric shock and occupational injuries.

A total of 744 victims suffered head injuries, 366 had multiple fractures, 1,331 had single fractures and 93 sustained spinal injuries during the holidays, whereas, 4,750 victims with minor injuries were provided first aid on the spot by trained medical teams.

The Provincial Monitoring Cell (PMC) told the DG that emergency plans for Eid were implemented in close coordination with the deputy commissioners (DCs) in all districts of Punjab. He was further told that 11,130 rescue workers performed their duties in three shifts at 650 key points established across Punjab. These included 250 key points for emergency vehicles and 400 key points for motorbike ambulances.

Emergency ambulances, fire and rescue vehicles were deployed at all major Eid prayer sites and sensitive areas, along with trained staff to provide immediate pre-hospital emergency cover in all districts of the province.

The head of PMC informed the DG that a higher number of emergencies occurred in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Bahawalpur during Eid days. The Lahore Emergency Service responded to 2,222 emergencies, including 1,190 Road Traffic Crash (RTC) emergencies. Faisalabad Emergency Service responded to 1,269 emergencies, including 521 RTCs, Multan Emergency Service dealt with 965 emergencies, including 459 RTCs, Gujranwala Emergency Service responded to 791 emergencies, including 370 RTCs, and Bahawalpur Emergency Service dealt with 698 emergencies, including 208 RTCs.

The DG said RTCs were increasing significantly on holidays like Eid and August 14, but it was everyone’s responsibility to drive carefully and abide by road safety laws to minimise the risk as nothing is more important than human life.

He also requested the public to call 1122 in a timely manner in case of an emergency as only promptly reported incidents could be responded to. Dr Naseer also appreciated the rescuers whose remained on duty during Eid holidays.

CTO visits hospitals

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Captain (Retd) Liaqat Ali Malik directed the Road Safety Unit of the CTPL to visit the Services Hospital, General Hospital and Mayo Hospital to inquire after the health of victims who suffered accidents during Eid holidays. The Road Safety Unit distributed flowers, pamphlets and delivered an awareness lecture to accident victims and their relatives.

The safety unit provided assistance and help to road accident victims. The CTO spoke on the occasion and said that most of the accidents occurred due to speeding as well as reckless and negligent driving. “To avoid accidents, one must follow traffic rules,” he said.

He added that during the campaign against underage drivers, 1,110 motorcycles were impounded during chand raat and Eid holidays, while 2,176 challan tickets were issued to underage drivers. He further said that 1,690 challan tickets were issued to motorcyclists without a safety helmet.

The CTO further said that the patrolling officers were deployed at 46 points of the city to curb one-wheeling and over speeding during Eid days. A total of seven FIRs were lodged against wheelies and speeding, while 34 FIRs were lodged collectively. “City Traffic Police has performed a commendable job during the accident prevention campaign against offenders.”

He added that SP Sardar Asif and SP Hammad Raza Qureshi remained in the field and supervised the campaign against wheelies and speeding.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2019.