Bengaluru has recorded its first reported cracker-related eye injury of the Deepavali season, after a six-year-old boy suffered a grade-two chemical injury to his right eye while watching a bijli cracker being burst on Friday, according to Times of India – Bengaluru.
The injury was reported by Minto Ophthalmic Hospital, where doctors classified the case as grievous. The child is undergoing treatment at the hospital. The incident occurred before the main Deepavali festivities had officially begun, highlighting the risk of eye injuries during firecracker use around residential neighbourhoods and public spaces.
A chemical injury can affect the surface and internal structures of the eye, making immediate medical assessment important. In this case, the hospital said the injury was to the boy’s right eye and was graded as a grade-two chemical injury. The report did not provide further details about the child’s treatment plan, prognosis or the exact location where the cracker was burst.
The incident involved a bijli cracker, which was being burst while the child watched. The report did not state whether the boy was handling the firecracker or standing at what distance from it. It also did not provide information about the product’s source or whether any complaint had been filed with local authorities.
Minto Ophthalmic Hospital has advised people needing urgent eye care to contact its emergency helpline at 9481740137. Other eye hospitals in Bengaluru have also listed emergency contact numbers for cracker-related injuries during the festive period.
Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital can be reached at 9594904060. Narayana Nethralaya has provided the numbers 080-66121641 and 9902546046, while Vasan Eye Care’s emergency helpline is 1800 5713 333. Nethradhama Eye Hospital can be contacted at 9845195898.
The reported case comes at the beginning of the Deepavali period, when hospitals typically prepare for emergency presentations involving the eyes. The available report does not establish the total number of cracker-related injuries in Bengaluru this season or indicate whether other hospitals have recorded similar cases.
The child remains under treatment at Minto Ophthalmic Hospital. Further information about his condition and any additional injury cases will depend on updates from the treating hospital and other medical facilities.
