1981 Circus fire disaster in Bangalore,India: Causes,management of burn patients and possible presentation

The circus fire disaster claimed 92 lives and 300 others were injured. A total of 119 patients were treated in the Burns centre at Victoria Hospital. Forty-two patients were treated as outpatients and 77 cases were admitted. Fourteen patients with more than 80 per cent burns of the body surface died within 48 hours of the disaster. Three patients out of the remaining 63 cases died in the course of treatment, 32 patients were operated by escharectomy and skin grafting or flap procedures. Proper medical assessment, early fluid therapy and respiratory care saved many critical patients. Human Antitetanus toxin and Pseudomonas hyper Immune globulin seem to have a definite role in the prevention and control of infection with Clostridium tetani and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ‘Furacin’ was found to be a valuable topical agent.