Diwali Turns Tragic: Deadly Carbide Guns Blind Over 200 Children Across Madhya Pradesh

This Diwali, the festival of lights turned into a night of horror for hundreds of families across Madhya Pradesh. What began as a viral “fun trend” on Instagram has now left more than 200 children injured — many of them permanently blinded. The cause: makeshift carbide guns, promoted online as “green firecrackers.”

Over the past few weeks, reels on Instagram and YouTube showcased how to create these guns using PVC pipes, calcium carbide, and lighters. Touted as a cool, eco-friendly alternative to crackers, they soon became a rage among youngsters. However, these crude devices proved deadly when they exploded with immense force.

Despite early warnings, the authorities failed to act decisively. On October 17, Navdunia had reported the growing trade of carbide guns in an article titled “Carbide Pipe Gun Trade in the City: A Warning Bell Before Diwali.” While some vendors were booked, no comprehensive ban was imposed — and the result was devastating.

In Bhopal alone, 124 people suffered eye injuries on Diwali night. Hospitals were flooded with emergency cases — 41 at Seva Sadan, 36 at Hamidia, 21 at BMHRC, 13 at AIIMS, eight at Jawaharlal Nehru Gas Relief Hospital, and five at Jaypee Hospital. Six patients now require corneal transplants. Vidisha reported 25 similar cases, five of which risk total vision loss. Gwalior and Indore recorded 10 and six cases respectively.

Doctors at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, said they had never seen such severe eye burns. Dr. Kavita Kumar and her team performed complex transplants on two victims, aged 13 and 26. In Indore, a 12-year-old boy underwent emergency surgery to save his eyesight.

One victim’s father recounted, “My nine-year-old son was firing the gun when it suddenly exploded. The blast hit his face, and calcium carbide fragments entered his right eye. After 24 hours of treatment, he managed to open his eye, but the swelling still hasn’t gone down.”

According to police, these crude devices originated as makeshift “animal deterrents” used by farmers in Maharashtra. The arrested seller, Vinod Mohite, and six others from Buldhana district admitted to bringing calcium carbide from Maharashtra and assembling the guns locally for Rs 50, selling each for Rs 150–200.

Following the incidents, Vidisha police registered cases under the Explosives Act and arrested all seven accused. Over 228 plastic guns and 4 kg of calcium carbide were seized. Authorities have now directed all SDMs to inspect and crack down on such illegal sales across districts.

What was once meant to scare away animals has now scarred hundreds of families for life — a chilling reminder of how unregulated online trends can turn deadly in the real world.