What are Carbide Guns that have robbed dozens of children of their eyesight in several states?

New Delhi: Across the country, a dangerous new trend of “carbide guns” is robbing innocent children of their eyesight. Called “desi firecracker guns” or “jugaadi bombs,” they are proving to be a dangerous toy for children. In several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, this illegal and dangerous invention has caused serious eye injuries to children.

More than 120 children injured in Madhya Pradesh

There has been a sudden and alarming increase in cases of serious eye injuries due to the use of carbide guns. According to an NDTV report, in just three days, more than 122 children have been admitted to hospitals with serious eye injuries across Madhya Pradesh, including Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, and Jabalpur. In Vidisha district, improvised carbide guns being sold openly have robbed the eyesight of 14 innocent children.

Bhopal’s Hamidia Hospital alone has registered over 26 cases. 17-year-old Neha, describing her ordeal, said that one of her eyes was completely burned when a makeshift carbide gun exploded. Another victim, Raj Vishwakarma, said, “I made a homemade firecracker gun after seeing it on social media, and then it exploded. I lost my eye.”

Reports from other states

A minor was seriously injured by a calcium carbide gun in Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh. The teenager suffered an eye injury and is undergoing treatment at the hospital. Meanwhile, according to a report in Dainik Jagran, the increasing use of carbide guns as an alternative to firecrackers in Patna, Bihar, has caused over 50 people to lose their eyesight.

How is carbide gun made?

According to Hamidia Hospital’s CMHO, Dr. Manish Sharma, and other eye specialists, these “jugaadi bombs” are being made by children by mixing matchsticks and gunpowder and filling them in plastic or tin tubes. During the explosion, sharp shrapnel and metal particles directly hit the eyes. In many cases, the pupil has ruptured, requiring immediate surgery.

How did this dangerous trend start?

Instagram Reels and YouTube challenge videos are believed to be the main reason behind this dangerous trend. Watching viral videos like the “Firecracker Gun Challenge,” children are creating garage-like laboratories at home, putting themselves and others at risk.

Administration action

Following the serious incidents in Vidisha, the administration has now begun taking action against these improvised carbide guns being sold illegally. Parents are urged to keep their children away from such dangerous social media challenges and prevent them from buying these deadly ‘toys’.