We are all aware and fresh with the memories of the recent turmoil that shook us to shambles last year and is still chasing us in Kashmir valley. Trauma is not something new for us as we have been already handling all varieties of trauma since last three decades. Trauma is growing menace and is listed as one of the major killer diseases of the mankind, assuming a significance of a global disease. Trauma is engulfing and mopping up human lives in its different facies. Natural catastrophes like earthquakes, floods, avalanches, land-slides, fire outbreaks, tsunamis consume human lives in bulk and bring massive destruction and devastation. Over the last few decades yet another form of trauma has cropped up globally owing to urbanisation. The road traffic accidents is yet another challenge to handle. Man to man conflicts, war weaponry have explored a newer horizon of trauma. According to a recent WHO report you will be surprised to know that by 2020 trauma will be the third largest killer disease in the developing world. It is going to be the global pandemic. Rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, crimes and violence have led to an alarming increase in the rate of accidental injuries. It is estimated that in the developing countries over 6 million will die and 60 million will be injured in the next 10 years. Road traffic accidents are increasing at an alarming annual rate of 3%. It may not surprise you to know that a vehicular accident is reported every 3 minutes and a consequent death every 10 minutes on Indian roads. A trauma related death occurs in India every 1.9 minutes. It is alarming to note that the magnitude of the problem is growing and growing and little has been done in this regard to handle this meanace.
Author(s): Dr. Mushtaq Chalkoo1*, and Dr. Mumtaz Din Wani