Woman loses finger in freak mishap in bus: Safety concerns raised over vehicle design

Kozhikode: A journalist from Kerala lost her ring finger of her right hand after it was severed in a freak accident while getting down from a private bus in Kozhikode, according to a post shared in her Facebook page.

The incident occurred on August 21 when the woman was returning from Vadakara to Kozhikode. As she stepped off the bus near the KSRTC stand on Mavoor Road, her ring caught on a sharp metal edge inside the bus. The force tore off her finger, leaving the bone exposed.

Fellow passengers and the driver immediately assisted her and took her to National Hospital, Kozhikode where doctors provided initial treatment. She was later transferred to Baby Memorial Hospital. Despite attempts to preserve the severed finger, surgeons determined that reattachment was not possible due to the severity of the injury.

Doctors indicated that amputation was the only treatment. She was moved to a specialist hospital in Kochi, where surgeons performed the procedure on August 22.

Doctors identified the injury as a “ring avulsion,” a rare but severe trauma in a severe finger injury that occurs when a ring on the finger is forcibly yanked by snagging on an object, leading to damage to soft tissues, blood vessels, nerves, and bones.

The journalist acknowledged the support of her colleagues, family, and medical staff throughout the ordeal and noted that she would have to adapt to performing everyday tasks without her finger. She also emphasised the risks of wearing rings during travel or manual work, citing the potential safety hazards posed by the design and maintenance of some private buses, and confirmed that similar injuries have occurred in Kerala.