The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights has issued notices to police and hospital authorities over the reported death of a 10-year-old boy in Narela after a piece of a firecracker allegedly struck him during Diwali celebrations. The commission has sought action-taken reports within two weeks, including details of the police response and the treatment provided to the child.
The DCPCR took suo motu cognisance of a November 9 report on the incident. It said that, if the account was true, the circumstances were disturbing and raised serious concerns about a possible violation of child rights. The commission’s intervention places the reported incident before the authorities responsible for policing, emergency medical care and protection of children in Delhi.
According to the report cited by the commission, the boy had been bursting firecrackers with his family outside their home in Rajiv Colony, Narela, when a piece of a firecracker struck him. The injury reportedly resulted in his death. The available report does not provide further details about the type of firecracker involved, the nature of the injury or the time taken to provide medical assistance.
The notices also seek clarification on allegations that the family was denied proper treatment and that their complaint did not receive an adequate police response. These issues remain part of the commission’s inquiry. The DCPCR’s request for action-taken reports is intended to establish what the police and hospital authorities did after the incident and how the family’s complaint was handled.
The case highlights the role of public institutions when a child is injured in a densely settled urban neighbourhood. Police authorities are responsible for recording and responding to complaints, while hospitals and medical staff are expected to provide emergency care. The commission’s action seeks information from both systems rather than treating the reported death only as a firecracker-related accident.
The incident also raises questions about how children are protected during periods when firecracker use increases in residential areas. The supplied report does not establish whether any safety guidance was issued locally, whether the firecracker was legally sold or used, or whether any person has been booked in connection with the death. Those details will depend on the reports sought by the DCPCR.
The commission has given the police and hospital authorities two weeks to submit their action-taken reports. The responses are expected to clarify the sequence of events, the medical response, the handling of the family’s complaint and any action taken after the child’s death.
