More than 100 people — mostly children — suffered eye injuries from firecrackers in Bengaluru this Diwali; hospitals report corneal burns and several at risk of partial vision loss. Safety tips included.
Diwali celebrations in Bengaluru this year left a worrying toll: over 100 people, most of them children, were treated for eye injuries after firecracker accidents across the city. Specialty centres reported dozens of cases in just two days, with Narayana Nethralaya recording 51 injuries and Minto Ophthalmic Hospital treating 17 patients — six of whom required surgery. Doctors warned that at least six patients face partial vision loss due to corneal burns and penetrating injuries caused by powerful crackers such as “atom bomb”, “bijli” and “flower pot.”
Medical teams say the majority of injuries occurred while lighting crackers or to bystanders standing too close; children under 18 made up more than 60% of cases, and the youngest patient was just 10 years old. Hospitals reported a mix of corneal abrasions, eyelash burns and foreign bodies in the eye; several required sutures or surgical intervention. Emergency ophthalmology units emphasised immediate first aid — avoid rubbing the eye, irrigate with clean water, cover the eye and seek urgent specialist care to reduce long-term damage.
Experts and hospital directors urged practical safety steps: use protective eyewear, maintain safe distance from active crackers, supervise children closely, and choose quieter, low-risk alternatives. They also called for public-awareness drives ahead of festivals and stricter sale enforcement of high-risk firecrackers.
