Jugraj injured in car crash

‘‘We set the femur by using interlocking nails, which is the latest technology, and we have done plating of the pelvis. For fixing the elbow, we have used plates and screws. The boy is strong and will recover within four to six months,’’ Dr Bassi added, saying he hoped the injuries will not have any impact on his budding career.

However, the metal plates, rods and nails, which have been put inside his body, are likely to stay in for the rest of his life. ‘‘Normally in the upper limbs, these are not removed, but in the lower limbs we have to remove them sometimes, if they start giving trouble,’’ said Dr Bassi.

Jugraj was wheeled into the operation theatre around 9.30 this morning where a team of 12 doctors, including four orthopaedicians led by Dr Bassi and four anesthesiologists, conducted three major operations for eight hours.

Jugraj’s parents, Harjinder Singh and Gurmeet Kaur, his cousin and former India women hockey team captain, Rajbeer Kaur, her husband and Olympian Gurmel Singh and coach Ramandeep Singh were among those present at the hospital. His teammates — Daljeet Dhillon, Baljeet, Tejbir, Deepak Thakur and Kamaljeet — also reached the hospital after hearing the news. And so did Dr Ashok Ahuja, HOD of sports medicine at NIS, Patiala.

Jugraj was conscious in the morning even though his blood count had nosedived, and he had to be given six units of blood during the operation. His cousin Rajbeer said: ‘‘He was alert throughout the journey from Jalandhar and was not worried about his pelvic or femur injury and was determined to bounce back.’’

The doctors too admitted that the player was very strong and fit. ‘‘I realised during the operation that Jugraj had very strong bones,’’ said Dr Bassi. But what he didn’t tell the media was that at least four electric saws broke while cutting his damaged bones during the operation. ‘‘We did not encounter any complications during the operation, and hope it will be smooth sailing afterwards too.’’

Dr PSM Chandran, Director of Sports Medicine, Sports Authority of India (SAI) said it is difficult at the moment to speculate when Jugraj can make a comeback. Even for someone as gutsy like Jugraj, Dr Chandran said, ‘‘His rehabilitation will be the most vital factor for making his comeback.’’

The sports medicine expert said that the number of fractures do not always count but the nature of healing process will be most crucial. ‘‘To be able to play hockey, his complete body has to recover. The back and elbow are vital, especially for Jugraj, who is a drag-flicker of the ball.’’

According to Prabhjot Singh — Jugraj’s cousin — who was with him when the accident occurred, they were returning from a restaurant on GT Road after dinner when a rickshaw-puller suddenly pulled up in front of their car near the Dakoha railway crossing. ‘‘We were cruising at around 85 to 90 kmph on the empty road when it (the accident) happened. Jugraj braked hard and swerved to a side but the Zen went out of control,’’ said Prabhjot, who’s recuperating at Jalandhar’s Tagore Hospital with multiple fractures.

Gurinder Singh, who was following Jugraj in his car, describing the accident said: ‘‘It happened all of a sudden. Jugraj’s car hit an electric pole on the divider. The sheer impact of the collision sent the car flying in the air.’’

Jugraj, despite his severe injuries, reportedly pulled out both his friends from that mass of steel and iron before collapsing himself.

(With inputs by Anju Agnihotri in Jalandhar and Manish Kumar in New Delhi)