Bengaluru: Bengaluru has witnessed a worrying surge in firecracker-related injuries during this year’s Diwali celebrations, with cases reported at major eye hospitals crossing 150. In a disturbing trend, several victims were not those bursting crackers but innocent bystanders who were struck by flying sparks and exploding fireworks.
More than 40 bystanders have reportedly suffered eye injuries while walking on roads, standing outside their homes or watching the celebrations. Rockets and sparks from crackers burst by others hit people who were nowhere near the fireworks, turning festive moments into medical emergencies.
Children have also figured prominently among the injured. A 12-year-old boy from Doddaballapur sustained serious eye injuries after a firecracker burst by another person struck him. He is being treated at Minto Hospital, where doctors are concerned about the possibility of damage to his eyesight.
Eleven-year-old Shivaleela from Raichur was injured when a firecracker spark hit her eye while she was walking home from a relative’s house. Her family brought her to Minto Hospital in Bengaluru for specialised treatment.
In another incident, 20-year-old Likesh Gowda from Koyyur village in Belthangady taluk suffered a devastating injury after stepping on a lit firecracker. The explosion severely damaged his right foot, and he was shifted to a hospital in Mangaluru.
Narayana Nethralaya has reported the highest number of cases at 51, while Minto Hospital has treated 36 patients and Sankara Eye Hospital 26. Prabha Eye Hospital recorded 15 cases, Bengaluru Nethralaya six, Modi Eye Hospital five and Agarwal Eye Hospital four. Other hospitals have reported more than 20 cases.
Although several patients have been discharged, critically injured victims remain under treatment. Some have undergone surgical procedures.
The incidents have renewed concerns over the implementation of firecracker safety regulations. Despite repeated awareness campaigns and rules promoting green crackers, violations continue to put the public at risk. The growing number of bystander injuries has highlighted the need for stricter monitoring of firecracker sales and use, particularly in crowded residential areas and public spaces.
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Source: The Siasat Daily
