At least 32 people suffered eye injuries in Bengaluru during Diwali firecracker incidents, with children accounting for 13 of the reported cases, according to details from hospitals treating those injured. The injuries affected both people lighting firecrackers and those watching the displays.
Narayana Nethralaya treated 20 patients following firecracker-related incidents. Of those treated at the hospital, seven were adults and 13 were children, according to the report. Doctors said some patients suffered injuries after sparks from firecrackers entered their eyes and affected their vision.
Seventeen people were injured while lighting firecrackers, while three sustained injuries while watching firecrackers being burst. The report did not specify the circumstances of the remaining cases.
The injuries were reported on Diwali, which fell on Sunday. Patients received emergency treatment at the hospitals, with the reported cases spread across several eye-care facilities in the city.
Minto Hospital recorded nine firecracker injury cases. Two patients received treatment at Shankara Eye Hospital, while one was treated at Prabha Eye Hospital. Together with the 20 cases reported by Narayana Nethralaya, the figures account for all 32 injuries mentioned in the report.
Doctors at Narayana Nethralaya advised people to wear protective glasses while lighting firecrackers. They also said anyone who suffers an eye injury should seek medical attention immediately. The advice is particularly relevant for injuries caused by sparks, which can damage the eye and affect vision even when the external injury appears limited.
The hospital reports show that firecracker-related injuries affected not only those handling firecrackers but also people standing nearby or watching the activity. The affected patients were provided emergency care at the hospitals named in the report.
