Train tragedy inflicts traumatic disorder on survivors, kin

Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 24

The horrendous scene of the train tragedy has inflicted Acute Traumatic Disorder (ATD) on survivors and onlookers. Dr BL Goyal, eminent psychiatrist, said two onlookers visited him with the ATD symptoms. They are scared and have been experiencing frequent bouts of that bone chilling scene.

The first patient is a 30-year-old labourer and another 45-year-old homemaker. This is called re-experiencing and re-living of the traumatic experience all day and night, he said. They saw people being crushed and dying.

Cops and other professionals, who were at the accident site to carry out rescue operation, may also be victims of the ATD syndrome. These scenes caused distress among them.

Survivors and relatives of the victims of the ghastly incident on the Dasehra evening are undergoing traumatic experience. Experts are of the view that they require post trauma psychological assistance to overcome the aftershocks of the tragedy.

However, experts believe that many people must be suffering from the ATD but they may not be aware of it. They may carry on with this for the rest of their lives.

Apart from onlookers, even driver of the train may be suffering from the ATD syndrome, he said. People who lost their dear ones are grief stricken and they may suffer from the trauma in the later stage.

Dr Goyal said symptoms of these afflictions were that patients experience insomnia, recurrence of similar dreams, frighten, depression and anxiety.

Effects of such tragedy are visible on these people in the long run as most of them are currently grief-stricken. This is called post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Retired Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi said the government must constitute a team of psychiatrists to diagnose the patients suffering from trauma. He added that medicines and therapies were available in the market to heal the people from these disorders. He said lack of awareness may not bring out most of the victims to the fore so these experts must visit them to heal trauma.

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