Despite being an accident hotspot, Gummidipoondi still lacks an emergency and trauma care centre. Although 3.5 crore was allocated last year under the National Health Mission to establish one, there has been no progress. Authorities cite encroachments around the Gummidipoondi govt hospital and delays in identifying alternative land near Chennai-Tada highway (NH-16) as reasons for the inaction.

Tiruvallur district, with 700 fatal accidents annually, ranks among Tamil Nadu’s top 10 districts for road fatalities. Gummidipoondi, located along NH16, alone reports nearly 30 fatal accidents every year (state crime records bureau) but continues to be overlooked in terms of critical healthcare infrastructure.

S Suresh Babu, an advocate from Gummidipoondi, says the Gummidipoondi GH handles 900 to 1,000 outpatients daily, as per the replies to RTI pleas, indicating the influx of visitors. “Victims of road or industrial accidents and even snake bites are redirected to Ponneri GH which is 25 km away, or to Chennai’s Stanley Hospital or RGGGH, which are 50 km away. For critically injured patients, this delay often proves fatal,” he said.

Giri, another local resident, said that persistent staffing shortages exist despite the hospital’s upgrade from a primary health centre more than a decade ago. “There are no specialist doctors, and trainee doctors mostly refer patients to bigger hospitals. Nurses are also scarce, and the hospital’s mortuary has never been operational. Families requiring post-mortems must spend at least 10,000 to transport bodies to Ponneri and back,” he added.

The delay of the trauma care project has drawn criticism. S Meera, joint director (health) for Tiruvallur district said that the Gummidipoondi tahsildar has been asked to identify alternative land for the centre. But, no concrete steps have been taken. “Every delay costs lives,” says Suresh Babu, emphasising the need for immediate action. “The sooner a trauma care centre is established, the more lives can be saved.”