The emergency department of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) was busier than usual on Eid day, with a surge in patients arriving with injuries from motorcycle accidents.
 

At 4:30pm, patients -- from children to the elderly -- arrived with different kinds of injuries. Some came with broken arms, while others had broken legs or minor injuries.
 

"The number of patients is higher today compared to other days," one of the two nurses at reception told this correspondent. Most of the patients came after bike accidents, a nurse added.
 

While this correspondent was speaking with another staff member, a youth arrived at the hospital on a stretcher.
 

The patient's maternal uncle said his nephew, Jubayer, is an 18-year-old HSC student.
 

"He took a joy ride on his elder brother's motorbike and had an accident. His right leg is broken," he said. They brought him from Narayanganj Sadar by ambulance.
 

Image

Another patient, Rakib, 25, came with a left-hand fracture.
 

"A CNG-run auto-rickshaw, coming from the wrong direction, hit my bike, leaving my hand fractured near the ECB intersection (Dhaka)," he told this correspondent at the emergency department.
 

There are ten beds in the emergency department, but they were overwhelmed by patients. Several patients were seen on stretchers.
 

Three doctors and seven to eight nurses, along with several supporting staff, were providing services.
 

At 5:00pm, two to three patients were waiting at the Emergency Operating Theatre for procedures.
 

Except for these two departments, other parts of the specialised hospital were relatively quiet with fewer patients and attendants.
 

The outdoor department was closed due to Eid holidays. It will reopen on March 23, reads a notice on the outdoor department.
 

Between 12:01am and 5:30pm, a total of 151 patients came to the department, a nurse told this correspondent seeking anonymity.
 

Prof Abul Kenan, director of NITOR, said the number of road accident patients coming to the hospital usually sees a rise during Eid as patients from across the country come here, finding many hospitals closed or offering limited services.
 

“Last Eid, most road accident victims were three-wheeler passengers, but this time motorcyclists made up the majority,” he told The Daily Star.
 

He said a total of 36 doctors -- 18 in each shift -- are carrying out duties during this Eid. "More doctors will join in case of emergency," he said.