Profile of Injuries in Firecrakcer Explosion

Studies on firecracker explosion fatalities are very few as such incidents are quite rare especially outside India. The Puttingal Devi Temple fireworks tragedy in Paravur, Kerala, witnessed fatalities on a scale unprecedented in the history of this country. Twenty such deaths that were brought to the mortuary of Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram were studied to document and statistically analyze the profile of injuries (external and internal), the organs and sites involved and the period of survival. Largest number of deaths was in the age group of 35–50. Externally the most common type of injuries was lacerations, abrasions, contusions and their triad that is so characteristic of explosion injuries. Internal injuries were mainly fractures, intracranial haemorrhages, lacerations and contusions where fractures were the most common. The internal organ showing the highest frequency of involvement was the brain followed by liver and lungs. Most vulnerable sites on the body were the limbs and chest followed by head. Cases which survived for more than 48 hours died principally of burns and its complications, without any injury whatsoever to the internal organs.