The Rising Danger of Carbide Guns: Diwali's Unforeseen Tragedy

Wed Oct 29 2025 07:35:40 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

This Diwali, the once-fun carbide guns have turned into devices of terror, leading to severe eye injuries among children across India. Discover the alarming trend and its consequences.

Diwali celebrations have taken a dark turn with the increasing use of dangerous carbide guns, leading to severe eye injuries among children across northern India. Reports indicate numerous cases of vision loss, primarily due to the unpredictable blasts of these improvised devices. With social media fueling their popularity, the call for urgent regulation and a ban grows louder amid rising casualties. Medical professionals warn of the long-term implications, urging for immediate government action.

Aarish, 15, sits on a hospital bed in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, with a painful injury in his left eye concealed by sunglasses.

His cornea was damaged when an improvised firecracker device known as a carbide gun exploded near his face during the Diwali festival, resulting in vision loss. Aarish's ordeal is part of a disturbing surge in eye injuries linked to these devices, which have entered the market following viral social media trends.

The carbide gun, crafted using calcium carbide in a plastic pipe, creates an explosive sound and fiery sparks, but its operation is dangerous. Many injuries occur when children peer inside to inspect the gun just before it detonates.

Despite the legal regulations on the sale of calcium carbide—often used for artificially ripening fruits—these guns are becoming increasingly popular. Following a spike in injuries during Diwali, it has come to light that many children across northern India have suffered serious eye injuries while using these makeshift firecrackers.

Reports indicate that over 100 cases have emerged in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal district alone, with 15 requiring surgical intervention. Additional cases have been documented in states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, prompting some government action, including the banning of carbide guns.

Doctors in local hospitals express their shock at the severity and nature of these injuries. They highlight that many patients were encouraged to purchase these guns after viewing videos on platforms like Instagram and YouTube that feature them as “science experiments.” The affordability of these devices, priced between 150-200 rupees (approximately $1.70-$2), further compounds the issue.

In light of the growing trend, medical professionals and officials are appealing for urgent governmental action to ban carbide guns entirely, citing the high risk of permanent injuries, including blindness and disfigurement. The incidents surrounding the use of these guns during Diwali reflect a larger societal issue surrounding child safety and the influence of social media on youth behavior.