During the Mahasiva Ratiri festival time around 52 people including women and senior citizens were highly affected by the high power neon lights and they were not able to open their eye lids because of irritations and burning sensations.
The people after returning home were not able to open their eye lids as severe itching was there and when they woke up the next day morning too their eyes had turned red and were feeling uncomfortable for the whole day.
Those who were affected rushed to the Government District Headquarters Hospital and they were treated as only out patients. The ophthalmologist who treated them has said that because of the harmful infrared rays and ultra violet rays from the neon light and they have suffered from “exposure keratitis”.
The hospital superintendent has said that there is no problem in eye sight and the patients were given eye drops and tablets and has insisted the villagers to come back again if the irritation persists. Easwari who has come to the festival said they didn’t feel irritation midnight, but after returning home she said her eye lids were not able to open and was little convinced as many had the same problem who attended with her.
