Will never forget these kids, says Yashoda hospital staff

And then, Ruchitha Goud and her 19 friends found themselves in the wards of the Yashoda Hospital, Secunderabad, 45 km away from their classrooms in Toopran, on July 24. Sadly, two of her friends never made it to the hospital.

That’s what 8-year-old Ruchitha repeatedly told doctors after she regained consciousness. And, while the team of 200 doctors and paramedics knew quite well what had caused the accident, her words have left a deep impact on them. After all, they realise, an adult and many other adults, put the lives of children, some as young as three, at risk.

“What was the need of talking on the phone and driving?” asks neonatologist Dr T.P. Karthik.

Fourteen children, victims of the train-school bus collision, were discharged over Thursday and Friday. Of the four still admitted, two, Prashanth and Varun (Ruchitha’s brother), are still critical.

But doctors say that sending them home is only half the job done. In four to six weeks, the kids will recover from physical injuries, but it’s the shock that could stay on, some may never take a bus again, some may fear trains and many will never forget the pain of losing a sibling.

Because that’s what was different on July 24. These were little kids, with their entire lives ahead of them, lying bloodied with severe injuries.

Despite years in trauma care, heads and hands shook. But the emergency team, led by medical director, Dr A. Lingaiah, pushed on. It has packed medicines for the children for 10 days and is offering them physiotherapy besides constant counselling. And keeping in mind their patients, soft toys and loads of chocolates were given to them, besides their heavy dosage of medicines during their stay.

“Kids are actually better than adults,” says nurse Dinu Moljoy, who is now looking after little Sharath. “They make faces and start crying when you bring in the injections. But it is easy to pacify them. I remember Swathi who insisted on eating fish. So, I just drew a picture of a fish and she was happy. She even made greeting cards for us.”

Dr A. Lingaiah, who had also led teams in the aftermath of bomb blasts, even admires the other patients who were awaiting care when the bus tragedy occurred. “They agreed to put their surgeries on hold for the children. On Day 1, 20 surgeries were postponed, next day 10 and another 10 on the third day. God bless them.”

Also, on July 24, there was no hierarchy at the hospital. Dr T.L.V.D. Prasad Babu, senior surgical gastroenterologist, says, “There were no juniors or seniors that day. We were all running, wheeling in the CT scan system, X-ray systems and other mobile equipment. Honestly, we usually ask our juniors to give the injections. But that day, nobody was sitting down.”

Even the MD of the hospital, G.S. Rao, stood outside the emergency ward for six hours straight, managing the madness.