Fire cracker injuries go up this Deepavali in Bengaluru; children bear the brunt

On the last day of Deepavali festivities this year, a 16-year-old boy sustained a self-inflicted injury while lighting a Lakshmi cracker that exploded prematurely. He suffered a tear of the upper eyelid and received prompt treatment. He is currently on medication and may require surgical intervention and follow-up. 

In another incident, a three-year-old child watching a lit flower pot cracker was injured as a bystander. The child suffered singeing of eyelashes, mild conjunctival congestion, and soot particles embedded in the cornea. Immediate eye irrigation was performed.

Despite repeated awareness campaigns urging people to use eco-friendly crackers and adhere to safety precautions, firecracker-related accidents continue to rise in Bengaluru every Deepavali. This year, more than 200 persons suffered eye injuries due to cracker mishaps, while several others were treated for burns, breathing difficulties, and allergic reactions. Last year, the city had reported around 180 fire-cracker related eye injuries.

Doctors observed that children constituted the majority of the victims this year. Most injuries were caused by Lakshmi crackers, Bijli crackers, and flowerpot cracker, with nearly half of the victims being bystanders - pedestrians and motorists - who were injured while merely watching the fireworks

“Children are particularly vulnerable as they often fail to anticipate the risk or stand too close to the explosion point,” said Naren Shetty, director of Narayana Nethralaya.

According to data from major eye hospitals, 44 cases were treated at the State-run Minto Ophthalmic Hospital, 93 at Narayana Nethralaya, 18 at Nethradhama, 13 each at Sankara Eye Hospital and Shekar Eye Hospital, and six at Agarwal’s Eye Hospital apart from several others in smaller eye hospitals.

At Minto Hospital, 32 of the 44 patients were treated on an outpatient basis, while 10 were admitted for further care. Five persons with burn injuries were referred to the Mahabodhi Burns ward at Victoria Hospital. At Narayana Nethralaya, 86 of the 93 patients were treated as outpatients, and seven underwent surgery for severe injuries such as corneal abrasions, corneal tears, epithelial defects, and lens displacement, according to doctors.

With this year’s figures surpassing last year’s tally, ophthalmologists and civic officials alike have called for stronger enforcement of green-cracker norms and sustained awareness campaigns to prevent such injuries.