New Delhi: Several hospitals activated emergency protocols to treat the Malviya Nagar fire victims who were severely burnt, had inhaled smoke and had trauma injuries.Patients were sent to major tertiary-care centres depending on the severity of the injuries and the availability of burn-care facilities. Due to its proximity to the site, Max Hospital, Saket, took in the largest number of casualties.The hospital said that of the 39 patients brought in, 18 – nine men and nine women — were declared brought dead.“Of the remaining patients, 15 were admitted to the ICU, including eight who remain on ventilator support in critical condition. Five patients with minor injuries were treated and discharged. The majority of those admitted have suffered asphyxiation and have trauma-like fractures,” said Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, group medical director at Max Healthcare.Those brought dead are believed to be aged between 30 and 50 years. The youngest patient in Max is an 18-year-old.One patient with more than 25% burns was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital’s burn unit.Doctors said many victims were injured while attempting to escape the blaze. “Several patients jumped from the upper floors. We saw long-bone fractures, pelvic fractures and one patient with a spinal injury who is undergoing neurosurgical treatment,” Dr Budhiraja said.At the AIIMS Trauma Centre, 16 people were brought, including 10 Delhi Police personnel involved in rescue operations. Doctors said the police personnel had suffered because of smoke exposure and breathing difficulties during evacuation. They were stable. “All are under observation and are expected to be discharged soon,” said Dr Rima, professor-in-charge of the media cell at AIIMS.She informed that three people who had reportedly jumped from the building were also brought to AIIMS. “Of them, two left against medical advice after being stabilised. The third had a serious head injury, underwent surgery and remains critical,” Dr Rima said.AIIMS also received three bodies – two women and one man. They are believed to be in their 40s. A tentative diagnosis showed that their deaths were from flame burns and inhalation injury. They had 70% to 85% burns. Safdarjung Hospital, which houses one of the capital’s largest burn units, got two patients referred from Max Hospital and Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital. One of them, a foreign national, is critical.
