Chennai sees dozens of cracker-related eye injuries; doctors call for caution

Fireworks light up the night sky as part of Deepavali celebrations in Chennai on November 8, 2026 | Photo credit: B. Velankanni Raj

The day might have been wet, but Chennaiites still tried to bring light and sparkles on Deepavali, which fell on Sunday (November 8, 2026). Even as safety awareness has increased, ophthalmologists in the city have again called for caution and reiterated protective measures as dozens of cases of cracker-related injuries have been reported.

The Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and the State Eye Hospital have received around 50 cases, while about 10 cases had to be admitted, a senior official said.

Also Read: Eye injuries caused by firecrackers are more serious than they seem, say eye doctors

During the Deepavali weekend, the Sankara Nethralaya emergency clinic at its main campus reported 45 firecracker injuries. Two underwent surgery to heal their wounds, while two others were scheduled for surgery on Monday, November 9, said its chairman TS Surendran.

In the hospital Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital has seen nearly 20 patients with cracker-related injuries, said S. Soundari, regional head of clinical services. One of them, she explained, was a very serious case that was signed up for surgery. Another patient lit a firecracker, but it did not explode. He approached her to look and she punched him in the face, injuring both eyes. The remaining injuries were mostly minor and will be treated medically, she said. Four cases involved children; the rest were adults, mostly in their 30s and 40s.

About 15 patients have been seen at Rajan Eye Care in the past three days, said Mohan Rajan, chairman and medical director of the hospital. One patient had to undergo surgery, minor injuries were treated on an outpatient basis.

Doctors reiterated the caution. Dr. Soundari called for wearing eye protection while bursting firecrackers, proper supervision of children and importantly not trying to reach into the eye or take out objects themselves. “If there is an eye injury, see a doctor immediately,” she stressed. Dr. Rajan noted that bystanders often get injured and should be careful to maintain a reasonable distance.

Published – 09 Nov 2026 17:28 IST