Aarish, a 15-year-old boy from Madhya Pradesh, is recovering in a hospital after losing vision in his left eye due to a DIY carbide gun explosion during Diwali celebrations. The device, made from calcium carbide, became popular after social media videos showed it being used for entertainment, leading to unregulated sales across northern India. Sadly, Aarish is among hundreds of young victims suffering from similar injuries.
With more than 100 cases reported in Bhopal alone and roughly 170 in Bihar, the use of these improvised firecrackers has raised alarms. Medical experts are overwhelmed by the types of injuries they are seeing, from mild burns to severe chemical damage to eyesight, with calls for tighter regulations on the sale of calcium carbide.
The thrill of the carbide gun comes with significant risk; officials attribute many injuries to children peeking inside the device just before it detonates. Despite local authorities enforcing bans post-injuries, social media remains a hotbed for promoting these dangerous devices.
Doctors emphasize the urgency of a nationwide crackdown on carbide guns. As they treat children like Alzain, who also lost vision after being influenced by viral videos, they express deep concern for the lasting impacts of these so-called 'firecrackers.'
Families are left devastated, grappling with both physical and emotional scars, and eager calls for comprehensive awareness and regulation grow louder in an effort to prevent future accidents.
With more than 100 cases reported in Bhopal alone and roughly 170 in Bihar, the use of these improvised firecrackers has raised alarms. Medical experts are overwhelmed by the types of injuries they are seeing, from mild burns to severe chemical damage to eyesight, with calls for tighter regulations on the sale of calcium carbide.
The thrill of the carbide gun comes with significant risk; officials attribute many injuries to children peeking inside the device just before it detonates. Despite local authorities enforcing bans post-injuries, social media remains a hotbed for promoting these dangerous devices.
Doctors emphasize the urgency of a nationwide crackdown on carbide guns. As they treat children like Alzain, who also lost vision after being influenced by viral videos, they express deep concern for the lasting impacts of these so-called 'firecrackers.'
Families are left devastated, grappling with both physical and emotional scars, and eager calls for comprehensive awareness and regulation grow louder in an effort to prevent future accidents.
