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Potholes cause rise to whole lot of injuriesSaturday, July 18, 2015By Vrushali
PurandarePotholes on Mumbai roads have become one of major risk factors for
Mumbaikars, being one of the major reasons for spine injuries, with the result
that doctor are advising people to reduce travelling especially during the
monsoon season, where many roads are full of pot holes. The ones suffering the
most because of this are mainly women.
A number of complications occur which include injuries like lower back pain,
cervical spine pain and whiplash injury, cervical spondylosis, body ache, neck
pain are very common due to potholes, but one of the most severe undoubtedly
are miscarriages which occur to pregnant women, because of this potholes.
Sometimes, potholes lead to fatal accidents which may lead to deadly injuries
like brain or spinal cord injury.
One patient who is pregnant (name changed ) Sarita Singh said , “The problem
is with potholes on our roads, that is causing significant injuries to the
back while traveling, when cars or bikes or autorickshaws passes over potholes,
it gives a jerk which is risky and causes a lot of tension. I am five months
pregnant and have been advised by doctor to reduce traveling especially now
that the monsoon is here due to potholed roads but since I belong to a middle
class family I can't afford to sit at home”.
Speaking to ADC, Dr. Arvind Goregaonkar, Head of Orthopedic Department at Sion
Hospital said, “Such conditions used to affect many people aged above 60. But
now it is increasing in a number of young people, under 40 years of age, who
are being diagnosed with conditions like cervical spondylosis. One of the
first major cautionary signs for cervical spondylosis, is a pain in the neck
and shoulders and arms, which may lead to excruciating pain shooting down the
arms. Patients always complain of severe devolution of the low back pains of
increasing pain, stiffness and inability to stand and walk instantly after the
rocky bumpy rides passing over potholes. Many people have to repeatedly face
this problem both to and from from work to their home. So we had to give them
an extensive spinal rehabilitation program focusing on the back pain. Chronic
back pain has become a immense problem.”
Corporator Devendra Ambekar said, “Potholes is a major issue which BMC is
taking lightly, after all its a question of middle class people who are
travelling on roads by rickshaw or by bike, even its harmful for people who are
travelling by car. The common problems noted among people are spondylosis and
back pain, which are significantly growing. BMC authorities should look into
this matter on a personal basis, avoid corruption and ensure that the roads are
free of pot holes.”
BMC chief engineer, roads and traffic, Ashok Pawar said, “At one time there
were around fifty thousand pot holes in Mumbai city , but now it have been
reduce to seventeen to eighteen hundred , improvements have been done over a
period of time. All the complaints have been attended to this monsoon, then the
recent rains created problems but we managed to sort them out during the dry
span. All the pothole complaints are attended in 48 hours and it is also
peoples responsibility to drive carefully”.
With key inputs by Priyanka Bhatt
