The situation is especially worrying for parents who use two-wheelers to drop their children to school, as even a minor skid can have devastating consequences. (Express Photo by Narendra Vaskar)Orthopaedic surgeons have flagged a rise in pothole-related injuries this monsoon, saying many are directly or indirectly linked to the poor condition of roads. Loose mud and gravel left around repaired potholes significantly reduce tyre grip. Dr Wahegaonkar, whose own vehicle skidded while he tried to avoid a pothole, escaped with minor injuries. He said that when a rider sustains an open wound or a compound fracture, the mud and gravel can contaminate the injury, increasing the risk of infection.