AIIMS Reports 190 Eye Injury Cases During Diwali, 19% Spike from Last Year

October 29, 2025

New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, on Wednesday reported 190 cases of firecracker and carbide gun-related eye injuries this Diwali season — marking a 19 per cent increase over the previous year.

Experts from the Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences (RPC), AIIMS, shared the data during a press conference, noting that 160 patients were treated for similar injuries in 2024.

Carbide Guns Emerge as New Hazard

Out of the total cases, 18 to 20 injuries were attributed to carbide-based guns — a worrying new trend, according to ophthalmologists at the RPC.

“A disturbing development this year has been the emergence of severe chemical burn-like injuries caused by carbide-based firecrackers,” said AIIMS experts.

These makeshift devices, often assembled at home, generate acetylene gas upon contact with water, leading to violent blasts and the release of metal hydroxide fumes. The resulting explosions caused chemical and thermal damage to the eyes, often resulting in permanent corneal opacification and irreversible visual loss, they added.

The experts urged the strict regulation and prohibition of such hazardous homemade devices.

Majority of Injuries Recorded on Diwali Day

AIIMS reported that 97 people (51%) sustained ocular trauma on the day of Diwali itself. While 44 per cent of cases originated within Delhi-NCR, the remaining 56 per cent were from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

Dr. Namrata Sharma of the RPC noted that the lifting of the cracker ban in several regions contributed significantly to the rise in cases.

“We didn’t expect this many cases compared to the last two years. Since the ban was lifted, we saw a surge in patients. Social media has also played a role — videos showing how these carbide guns are made are circulating widely,” Dr. Sharma said.

Children and Young Males Most Affected

The majority of the victims were young males under 20 years of age, and nearly 60 children required surgery at AIIMS.

About 17 per cent of patients suffered injuries to both eyes, with several experiencing complete loss of vision. Nearly 45 per cent sustained open globe injuries, requiring immediate surgical intervention to preserve ocular structure and residual vision.

The remaining cases involved chemical burns and blunt trauma caused by sparks, debris, or toxic gases emitted from firecrackers.

Severe Vision Impairment in 50% of Cases

According to hospital data, half of the patients experienced visual impairment — with 25 per cent suffering severe and another 25 per cent facing moderate vision loss.

The experts emphasised that early intervention and prompt surgical care are critical for restoring vision, but many patients reached hospitals hours after injury, complicating recovery outcomes.

Experts Call for Stricter Enforcement

The AIIMS team urged interstate coordination and tighter enforcement of firecracker regulations, along with the monitoring of online sales of hazardous materials.

“These crackers must be curbed at the production level, as curbing sales is clearly not working out,” said Prof. Mandeep Bajaj from AIIMS.

They also called for public education campaigns on eye protection, first aid, and safe celebration practices during festivals.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of India had allowed the limited sale of certified “green” firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. However, experts said that widespread non-compliance and cross-border availability of banned fireworks from neighbouring states contributed to the rise in injuries.