Bhopal: What should have been a night of festive lights turned into a nightmare across Bhopal and nearby districts this Diwali. Over 125 people, including children and older adults, suffered severe injuries from makeshift “carbide guns” sold as cheap toys, leading to numerous MP carbide gun injuries during the celebrations.
Doctors warn the actual number may be closer to 200 due to MP carbide gun injuries. Doctors treated cases from Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Sagar, and other districts. Over 70% of victims suffered corneal damage, overwhelming hospital eye wards.This left several at risk of permanent blindness.
Priced around Rs 200 and made from plastic pipes, lighters, and calcium carbide, these devices explode violently. They send shrapnel-like fragments into eyes and bodies. At Hamidia Hospital, one of Bhopal’s largest government hospitals, doctors treated around 40 patients on Diwali night alone.
Kavita Kumar, Head of Ophthalmology, described the carbide gun as a “deadly explosive” rather than a toy.
“The blast scatters plastic shards like pellets, causing deep corneal ulcers and burns,” she said. Some cases even require urgent corneal transplants, which are costly and involve months of recovery.
State health officials reported that at least 14 victims have permanently lost their eyesight so far. Bhopal CMHO Manish Sharma confirmed over 60 hospitalizations in the city. Children aged 8–14 made up most patients, and doctors provided first aid and discharged many.
Despite Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s directive on October 18 to ban carbide guns, these devices flooded markets. Social media trends promoting dangerous Diwali stunts fueled their spread.
The incident highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement and public awareness about the severe risks posed by carbide guns. Authorities urge families to stay vigilant this festive season and avoid cheap, unsafe alternatives that can cause lifelong injuries.
–IANS
