Diwali celebrations in Bengaluru have been marred by a worrying rise in firecracker-related eye injuries; more than 100 people have reportedly been treated at hospitals across the city so far.
The incidents have raised serious concerns about public safety during festival time, as many of the injured victims are children and even very young infants. Although firecrackers are part of Diwali celebrations, accidents have once again shown how explosive products should not be handled carelessly. Some victims have suffered serious eye injuries, with a few needing hospitalisation and surgery.
Narayana Nethralaya, Minto Eye Hospital and Shankar Eye Hospital are some of the hospitals where people have been injured while bursting firecrackers, according to the figures. Not only those who were directly handling the firecrackers but bystanders standing nearby watching the celebrations too have been injured.
The injuries range from relatively minor cases that need medication to serious damage that has led to surgery. Young children among them have made the situation even more worrying for doctors and families.
Narayana Nethralaya Reports 70 Eye Injury Cases
70 cases of firecracker-related eye injury have been reported at Narayana Nethralaya centres in Bengaluru. Rajajinagar centre alone recorded 41 cases; Bommasandra, Bannerghatta Road and Whitefield together had 29 cases. The figures show how bad the problem was in different parts of the city during Diwali.
Of the 41 patients treated at Rajajinagar centre, 24 were children below 18 years of age. More than half (53%) of the reported patients at the centre were minors. Data from the hospital showed that 29 people were injured while bursting firecrackers themselves and 12 while standing near crackers but not bursting them. This shows that people who do not burst crackers directly are also exposed to serious risks during celebrations if crackers are burst in crowded residential areas or near groups of spectators.
Of the 41 patients at the Rajajinagar centre, 40 were treated with medical treatment and medication and one needed surgery. These figures show how important it is to seek medical attention immediately if a firecracker injures an eye; even injuries that initially seem minor might need professional assessment.
Minto Eye Hospital Treats Several Serious Cases
Minto Eye Hospital has also reported several cases of firecracker-related eye injuries. There were 14 patients treated at the hospital: 10 with serious injuries and four with comparatively minor ones. Four needed hospitalisation, and two needed surgical intervention. The number of serious cases has raised questions about how severe injuries caused by firecrackers during the festival are.
Shankar Eye Hospital too has been facing a similar situation. The injured patients have ranged in age from three months old infant to adults as old as 46 years according to the information given by the hospital authorities. There is also a case of five month old baby who reportedly got an injury from firecracker and that too brought home the point that infants and young children are at risk during festive celebrations.
Children and Bystanders Face Significant Risks
The cases cited above show that firecracker accidents are not only for those who actually burst crackers. Children watching celebrations from close range, family members standing nearby, and pedestrians passing through areas where crackers are being burst can also be injured. Flying sparks, burning particles and exploding fragments cause sudden damage (especially to sensitive areas like eyes).
Generally, medical experts say people should stay at least a safe distance from firecrackers; children should not be allowed to play with them without an adult present and never relight crackers that don’t go off. Protective eyewear and open spaces away from crowds also reduce accidental injuries. Parents should keep infants and young children away from places where firecrackers are being used.
Medical Attention Is Crucial After Eye Injuries
Eye injuries from firecrackers should never be ignored even if there is no immediate loss of vision. People who have pain, redness, watering, blurred vision or bleeding after an accident need emergency medical care immediately. Rubbing or pressing an eye that’s been injured will only make it worse, and home remedies (without medical advice) may increase complications.
The more than 100 cases reported across Bengaluru hospitals remind us that festive cheer can’t be at the expense of personal safety. Children and infants are among those affected, so incidents like these highlight that awareness needs to be raised, responsible celebrations need to take place, and supervision needs to be stricter. Diwali is a time for joy, but safety should be the top priority.
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