An injured person undergoing treatment at Minto Hospital in Bengaluru after sustaining injuries in bursting crackers during the Deepavali festival. | Photo credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
On the last day of this year’s Deepavali festivities, a 16-year-old boy sustained injuries while lighting a Lakshmi cracker which exploded prematurely. He suffered a laceration to his upper eyelid and was given prompt treatment. He is currently on medication and may require surgery and monitoring.
In another incident, a three-year-old child was injured as a bystander watching a potted cookie set on fire. The child suffered from sunburn of the eyelids, slight congestion of the conjunctiva and particles of soot deposited in the cornea. The eye was immediately irrigated.
Despite repeated awareness campaigns urging people to use eco-friendly crackers and follow safety precautions, firecracker-related accidents continue to rise in Bengaluru every Deepavali. This year, more than 200 people have suffered eye injuries from mishaps with crackers, while several others have been treated for burns, breathing problems and allergic reactions. Last year, the city reported about 180 firecracker-related eye injuries.
Doctors have found that most of the victims this year are children. Most of the injuries were caused by Lakshmi crackers, Bijli crackers and flowerpot crackers, with nearly half of the victims being passers-by — pedestrians and motorists — who were injured just watching the fireworks.
“Children are particularly vulnerable because they often fail to anticipate the risk or stand too close to the point of explosion,” said Naren Shetty, director of Narayana Nethralaya.
According to data from major eye hospitals, 44 cases were treated at Minto Government Eye 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 besides several others at smaller eye hospitals.
At Minto Hospital, 32 of the 44 patients were treated as outpatients and 10 were admitted for further care. Five people with burns were referred to the Mahabodhi Burns Unit at Victoria Hospital. At Narayana Nethralaya, doctors said 86 out of 93 patients were treated as outpatients and seven underwent surgery for severe injuries such as corneal abrasions, corneal tears, epithelial defects and lens displacement.
With this year’s numbers surpassing last year’s total, eye doctors and civic officials alike have called for stronger enforcement of green cookie standards and ongoing awareness campaigns to prevent such injuries.
Published – 23 Oct 2025 21:38 IST
