Barring the obvious acute impact of such an accident on the trapped people like fractures/ trauma/ head injury/ major organ injuries and death. There are some short-term and long-term impacts on respiratory symptoms we can expect after such an incident.
New Delhi: 40 workers are currently trapped in a collapsed underground tunnel in Uttarkashi for over 120 hours now and doctors have expressed concern over their mental and physical health. On the Char Dham route, the workers got trapped in an under-construction tunnel – as per PTI reports, the labourers are safe and provided with medicines, electricity, oxygen, water and food items through pipes. Officials confirmed the same on Wednesday – but the incident continues to be a traumatic episode for survivors as they are likely to experience mental and physical stress, even PTSD, in a long run.
News9Live interested with doctors to know more about the physical and mental trauma that the survivors and stranded labourers are likely to experience. Dr. Sachet Dawar, Faculty of Medical Respiratory of Noida International Institute of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Noida International University started by talking about the challenges that survivors are likely to experience.
“Trapped workers in the aftermath of the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse are likely to confront significant physical and mental challenges. Physically, they may grapple with injuries incurred during the collapse, ranging from minor abrasions to more severe trauma. Scarce access to medical care and potential shortages of essential supplies could compound their health concerns,” Dr Dawar said.
Trauma, Head Injuries And Poor Lung Function: Doctors Concerned About Uttarkashi Tunnel Workers Stuck For Over 120 Hours
Trauma, head injuries and poor lung function: Doctors concerned about Uttarkashi tunnel workers stuck for over 120 hours
Barring the obvious acute impact of such an accident on the trapped people like fractures/ trauma/ head injury/ major organ injuries and death. There are some short-term and long-term impacts on respiratory symptoms we can expect after such an incident.
Trauma, head injuries and poor lung function: Doctors concerned about Uttarkashi tunnel workers stuck for over 120 hours
Dr Dawar also said that immediate medical attention is vital for physical injuries, focusing on stabilising conditions and preventing complications.
New Delhi: 40 workers are currently trapped in a collapsed underground tunnel in Uttarkashi for over 120 hours now and doctors have expressed concern over their mental and physical health. On the Char Dham route, the workers got trapped in an under-construction tunnel – as per PTI reports, the labourers are safe and provided with medicines, electricity, oxygen, water and food items through pipes. Officials confirmed the same on Wednesday – but the incident continues to be a traumatic episode for survivors as they are likely to experience mental and physical stress, even PTSD, in a long run.
News9Live interested with doctors to know more about the physical and mental trauma that the survivors and stranded labourers are likely to experience. Dr. Sachet Dawar, Faculty of Medical Respiratory of Noida International Institute of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Noida International University started by talking about the challenges that survivors are likely to experience.
“Trapped workers in the aftermath of the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse are likely to confront significant physical and mental challenges. Physically, they may grapple with injuries incurred during the collapse, ranging from minor abrasions to more severe trauma. Scarce access to medical care and potential shortages of essential supplies could compound their health concerns,” Dr Dawar said.
“On a mental level, heightened anxiety, fear, and psychological distress may affect the workers. The confined space, uncertainty surrounding rescue timelines, and the potential for further structural instability can contribute to acute stress reactions. Extended isolation in a high-stress environment may even lead to the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms,” the expert added.
Dr Dawar also said that immediate medical attention is vital for physical injuries, focusing on stabilising conditions and preventing complications. Emphasising psychosocial support is crucial, involving regular communication to provide reassurance, updates on rescue efforts, and strategies to cope with stress.
Dr. Sheetal Chaurasia, Consultant – Pulmonary Medicine, Manipal Hospital Whitefield, on the other hand, brought to light the physical implications of the incident.
“Barring the obvious acute impact of such an accident on the trapped people like fractures/ trauma/ head injury/ major organ injuries and death. There are some short-term and long-term impacts on respiratory symptoms we can expect after such an incident. Some of the respiratory effects are severe persistent cough, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, reactive airway disease, asthma, and declines in pulmonary function. Many survivors may be expected to have persistent coughs very similar to the so-called “WTC cough” seen among the survivors after the collapse of the World Trade center twin Towers on 9/11,” Dr Chaurasia explained.
“Relatively brief and strong irritant exposure to dust and other noxious particles due to bridge collapse could produce non-resolving inflammation in the mucosal surfaces of the aerodigestive system, leading to lung injury, sinus diseases, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. It can have a long-term effect in the form of development of COPD or bronchiolitis. For the survivors to reduce the impact of this event on the respiratory system it is advisable to reach out to a pulmonologist as soon as possible for a thorough respiratory examination, pulmonary function test, and imaging as necessary,” she added.
