Published Nov 11, 2026 | 5:22 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 11, 2026 | 5:22 PM
Deepavali. (iStock/ representational image)
The Festival of Lights kept hospital emergency wards in top hospitals across Bengaluru busy, with more than 100 cases of firework-related eye injuries reported in just three days.
The victims include young children and infants, as well as adults, with the youngest patient barely three months old. Among those injured was also a pregnant woman who remains in critical care.
At Narayana Nethralaya in Rajajinagar, 62 cases of firecracker-related injuries have been recorded, with minors accounting for more than half of them.
“For parents who are allowing children to burst crackers, many of them are going unsupervised, and that is causing injuries in children as young as a few years or a few months old,” said Dr Gairik Kundu, a cornea surgeon at the hospital.
Nearly 32% of the patients suffered sight-threatening injuries, with three requiring emergency surgery to prevent vision loss. Not all the victims were lighting crackers themselves; several were bystanders caught in the vicinity of firework displays.
“This is an appeal for people not to burn crackers in crowded areas and to wear protective eyewear while lighting crackers,” Dr Kundu said.
At Minto Ophthalmic Hospital (Regional Institute of Ophthalmology), Bengaluru, 46 cases of eye injuries have been recorded over the past three days. Eleven patients suffered severe injuries, while the hospital recorded its highest single-day caseload of 16 on Tuesday.
Victoria Hospital also reported several serious cases.
“There have been burn injuries ranging from 10% to 30%,” said Dr HL Vishwanath, Medical Superintendent, Victoria Hospital.
Six severely injured patients were still undergoing treatment at the hospital.
In one particularly serious incident, a 21-year-old pregnant woman was sitting beside a box of firecrackers when a spark ignited it, leaving her critically injured. She remains in the intensive care unit and is yet to be out of danger, said Dr Asima Banu, Special Officer at the Trauma and Emergency Care Centre, Victoria Hospital.
Meanwhile, Apollo Hospitals across the Karnataka region said they have recorded 19 Diwali-related injury cases this year. Of the cases, seven were reported at Apollo Hospital, Sarjapur Road, four each at Apollo BG Road and Apollo Speciality Hospital, Jayanagar, three at Apollo BGS Hospital, Mysuru, and one at Apollo Hospital, Seshadripuram.
Doctors warned that the dangers of firecrackers extend well beyond eye injuries. Lighting fireworks carries the risk of injuries caused by heat, flames, chemical exposure and explosive pressure, they stressed.
“The severity depends on the type of cracker and the distance from the explosion,” said Dr AN Venkatesh, Senior Consultant and Regional Director, Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka.
Injuries can range from first-, second- and third-degree burns affecting the skin and underlying tissues to facial burns, corneal injuries and ruptured eardrums. Hands are particularly vulnerable, especially when people hold lit crackers or burst them at close range. Eye injuries can be especially devastating, with children at risk of corneal burns, irritation and, in severe cases, partial or complete loss of vision.
Although public awareness and education have contributed to a significant reduction in firecracker-related injuries over the years, cases continue to surface every festive season. As Dr Venkatesh points out, the risks remain, making caution and responsible celebrations essential.
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(Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
