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Of these, 387 patients were injured in accidents involving three-wheelers, while 178 were linked to motorcycle accidents, and the rest of the patients were injured in bus or other crashes, he also said.

Of the patients, 419 were admitted, and the hospital performed 413 major and minor surgeries during the period, the NITOR director added.

The number is much higher than the annual average daily patient influx in the hospital’s emergency department.

A total of 85,558 patients visited NITOR’s emergency department in 2024, meaning an average of 234 patients per day.

Earlier, visiting NITOR on the Eid day, this correspondent found the emergency department busier than usual with patients coming from different districts.

One of them, Jubayer, 18, a HSC student, was brought to the hospital from Narayanganj Sadar by ambulance.

“I had an accident while riding my elder brother’s motorbike. My right leg is broken,” he said.

Prof Kenan said reckless driving, joy rides on motorcycles, and movement of slow vehicles on highways alongside high-speed ones are among the key causes of road accidents.

He also said if the trauma centres along the highways were functional, there would have been less pressure on NITOR, adding that there should be at least one trauma centre in every division so that road crash victims can be rushed there immediately.

Besides, many local hospitals lack the necessary manpower and equipment to perform the surgeries required promptly after accidents. As such, delays in reaching Dhaka from remote areas often worsen patients’ conditions, and in many cases, limbs have to be amputated, he added.