BHOPAL: As MP’s “dark Diwali” tragedy unfolds, leaving close to 300 people including children with eye injuries after using “carbide guns” to celebrate Diwali on Monday and Tuesday, hospitals in Bhopal — where the highest number of patients are being treated — and in other districts have reported at least 23 cases with “severe” damage to their eyes.Doctors, however, said this does not necessarily mean it would lead to blindness and whether they would lose vision or not would be clear only after six months of observation.Meanwhile, CM Mohan Yadav visited Hamidia Hospital here late on Friday evening to inquire about the health of those admitted. Yadav interacted with a few children and sought details of the treatment from attending specialists. Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla, who is also in charge of health department, too visited the hospital.Dr Kavita Kumar, head of ophthalmology at Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal said, “A total of 13 patients have undergone surgery here. But this does not mean they would necessarily lose vision. They would be under observation for the next six months, and further measures would be taken based on their speed of recovery. Limited vision is a strong possibility.”Similar observations were made by doctors at Bhopal’s Seva Dham Charitable Eye Hospital. “More than 60 patients have come here so far, and of these, four patients have severe injury in the eyes. At present, they are experiencing difficulty in seeing, but the actual condition will be clear only in due course of time,” said Dr Prerna Upadhyay.Dr Preeti Rawat, head of ophthalmology department at MGM Medical College and Hospital in Indore said, “Eight patients were treated here, with injuries ranging from minor burns and corneal damage. One patient is serious and chances of him regaining sight in an eye is slim.”Govt’s blanket ban could not put out the fireAnother victim, 24-yearold Vikas Mewada, a medical representative from Sehore district and now being treated at a hospital in Bhopal, said he, too, was drawn by social media reels.“Despite being a pharmacist, I bought the gun after watching reels on Instagram. When my nephew tried his hand at it, it didn’t light up. When I checked, it shot a fire ball in my eye,” he said. Vikas underwent surgery and now has blurred vision.The reels also featured DIY (do it yourself) tutorials on making carbide guns using plastic or tin pipes combined with calcium carbide and matchstick heads, promoting them as must-have festive toys. Despite MP govt now imposing a blanket ban on the purchase and use of these toy guns, reels continue to go viral on social media platforms unchecked.A 17-year-old victim from Vidisha district, who asked not to be named, said, “I watched videos online and wanted to try my hand at it. However, as the carbide gun went off, I sustained injury in one of my eyes.”Another teen, also from Vidisha, said, “I watched some reels showing how to make these guns and assembled one at home. However, it exploded even before I could aim and fire.”“Many assembled these guns themselves at home after watching online videos and reels,” said Anshul Gupta, collector of Vidisha district which reported 22 cases. Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla, who is also in charge of the health department, and visited victims at Bhopal’s Hamidia Hospital on Friday, stressed on the “need for stronger vigilance against online trends that may prove hazardous.”
