{
  "id": 18397987,
  "title": "Diwali 2026 Safety Alert In Indore! Carbide Guns Caused 40 Eye Injuries Last Year, Doctors Warn Children Risk Permanent Blindness",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/diwali-2026-safety-alert-in-indore-carbide-guns-caused-40-eye",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T22:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/indore/diwali-2026-safety-alert-in-indore-carbide-guns-caused-40-eye-injuries-last-year-doctors-warn-children-risk-permanent-blindness"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indore, Madhya Pradesh: Carbide guns, a popular Diwali tradition, have been linked to 40 eye injuries among children in the past year, according to doctors. The injuries, which can lead to permanent blindness, occur when the carbide gun fails to fire immediately after being triggered, causing the child to look into the nozzle and be exposed to the explosive contents. Last year, 31 eye injuries were reported by October 24, climbing to 40 by October 26. The eye injuries were so severe in some cases that cornea transplants were necessary. Medical professionals are now warning against the use of carbide guns for Diwali celebrations. Doctors at MY Hospital treated several patients, mostly children, for these injuries. Dr. Rishi Gupta, a cornea specialist, recounted performing cornea transplants on four to five children over the years due to carbide gun injuries. Ordinary crackers can also cause serious eye damage due to sparks, gunpowder, and chemicals. The health department has issued an advisory urging people to celebrate Diwali in open spaces, wear cotton clothes, supervise children, and maintain a safe distance from crackers. They also recommend using long candles or incense sticks to light the crackers. The health department advises against rubbing or pressing an injured eye or using rose water or eye drops without medical advice. Instead, immediate examination by an eye specialist is crucial. Timely treatment and surgery can help preserve vision. The health department also advises against relighting failed crackers, bursting them inside glass containers, and taking precautions for those with asthma or respiratory illnesses. In case of burns, the affected area should be cooled with clean, cool running water, and clothing stuck to the burn should not be pulled off. Serious burns, blast injuries, and eye injuries require immediate hospital treatment.",
  "summary": "Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Carbide guns used during Diwali celebrations can cause serious eye injuries and even permanent loss of vision, particularly among children. Last year, Indore reported 31 eye injury cases by Oct 24, rising to 40 by Oct 26. Several patients, mostly children, reached MY Hospital. In two to three cases, injuries were so severe that cornea transplants were required. Medical…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}