At Karnataka’s Minto Ophthalmic Hospital, a total of 30 cracker injury cases were reported in the last three days. File
| Photo Credit: V. Sreenivasa Murthy
The festive spirit of Deepavali celebrations was marred by a spate of firecracker-related eye injuries across Bengaluru, with leading eye hospitals collectively reporting over 130 cases in the last three days. Doctors have expressed concern over the high number of injuries among children and bystanders this year.
At the State-run Minto Ophthalmic Hospital, a total of 30 cracker injury cases were reported in the last three days. Between October 21 (9 a.m.) and October 22 (9 a.m.), 14 new cases were registered — 11 treated on an outpatient basis and three requiring admission. Of these, 10 were adults and four were children.
Five patients sustained grievous injuries, including four adult males and one child. The remaining nine suffered simple injuries. One patient required surgical intervention, while 13 were managed conservatively. Among the injured, six were self-inflicted and eight were bystanders. The common types of crackers involved were Bijli (7 cases), Atom Bomb (4), Flower Pot (1), Lakshmi Bomb (1), and Rocket (1).
Of the total 30 cases reported at Minto Hospital since the beginning of the festival period, six required hospitalisation and three surgical procedures. Doctors said they are expecting more cases on Wednesday (October 22, 2025) night as it is the last day of the festivities.
At Narayana Nethralaya, a surge in cracker-related eye injuries has been reported this Deepavali, with 80 patients treated between October 19 and 22. Of these, 46 were children below 18 years and 27 were bystanders. Seven required surgical intervention, while others were treated medically for injuries ranging from corneal abrasions to severe cases involving lens dislocation and corneal tears.
Naren Shetty, director of the hospital, said, “This year, we have seen a worrying rise in firecracker-related injuries, with many children and bystanders getting hurt while celebrating. A moment of carelessness can lead to life-altering injuries. Everyone must take responsibility to ensure safety.”
At Sankara Eye Hospital, 15 cracker-related injuries were treated since Tuesday (October 21) night, all minor and managed on an outpatient basis. Of these, eight were children.
Meanwhile, Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital reported six cases of minor injuries as of October 22, involving both adults and children from various parts of the city including Shivajinagar, Koramangala, and HSR Layout.
Doctors across hospitals have urged the public to follow safety precautions, including maintaining distance while lighting crackers, wearing protective eyewear, and ensuring adult supervision for children.
Published – October 22, 2025 08:20 pm IST
