Bhopal: What was meant to be a festival of lights has turned into a season of darkness for hundreds of families across Madhya Pradesh. A deadly new Diwali fad, the so-called “carbide gun” or “desi firecracker gun,” has left over 122 children hospitalized with eye injuries, while 14 have been permanently blinded in just three days.
The worst-hit region is Vidisha district, where local markets openly sold these crude explosive devices despite a statewide ban issued on October 18. Costing barely Rs 150-Rs 200, these improvised “toys” are made of plastic or tin pipes filled with gunpowder, matchstick heads, and calcium carbide, a lethal mix that explodes with the force of a bomb.
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23 Oct 2025
A 17-year-old girl, now battling partial blindness at Hamidia Hospital, sobbed, “We thought it was just a fun toy. When it exploded, I lost sight in one eye.” Another victim admitted, “I saw a video on social media and tried to make it myself. It blew up in my face.”
Police have arrested six people for illegally manufacturing and selling guns. Inspector R.K. Mishra confirmed, “Those selling or promoting these carbide guns will face strict legal action.”
Hospitals in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, and Gwalior are struggling with a flood of young victims. At Hamidia Hospital alone, 26 children were admitted within 72 hours. Doctors have issued a grim warning to parents: “This is not a toy, it’s an improvised explosive.”
Dr. Manish Sharma, CMHO at Hamidia, said, “These blasts release hot metal fragments and toxic vapours that burn the retina. We are treating several cases of ruptured pupils and permanent blindness.” Some children remain in the ICU, their vision unlikely to return.
Police investigations reveal that the “carbide guns” are being sold as “mini cannons” at local fairs and roadside stalls, often promoted on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts under the trending #FirecrackerGunChallenge. Teenagers are seen firing the devices for views and likes, unaware of the irreversible damage they risk.
As the government cracks down and doctors sound the alarm, parents across the state are left praying that this “Diwali of destruction” claims no more young eyes.
