Patna: What began as a makeshift alternative to festive firecrackers has turned into a public health crisis in Bihar. Carbide guns — crude plastic contraptions that use calcium carbide and water to create explosive sounds — have caused severe injuries to hundreds of children across the state, with more than 50 reported cases of blindness in Patna alone.
According to Dr. Vibhuti Prasanna Sinha, Chief and Deputy Director of the Regional Eye Centre at IGIMS, around 50 children have sought emergency treatment before and after Diwali for eye injuries caused by carbide guns. “Due to a lack of consolidated data, the exact number remains uncertain, but we estimate between 150 and 200 people have suffered serious or partial injuries statewide,” Dr. Sinha said.
How the carbide gun works — and why it’s so dangerous
The device is typically made from two pieces of plastic pipe — one slightly larger than the other — sealed at one end and fitted with a joint. A small amount of calcium carbide and water are placed inside, and the resulting acetylene gas is ignited with a lighter to produce a loud explosion.
Children, unaware of the danger, often look inside the pipe if the explosion fails to go off — a mistake that can cause the blast to rupture the retina, resulting in immediate blindness.
“The flame emitted reaches extremely high temperatures, burning the face and eyes within seconds,” explained ophthalmologist Dr. Nimmi Rani. “Tiny carbide particles penetrate the cornea and optic nerves, causing irreversible damage. In some cases, eardrums have also burst due to the blast pressure.”
A viral threat
The trend has been amplified by social media, where videos of the explosive sound effects have spread widely among children. Sold for as little as Rs 100– Rs 200 in local markets and often made at home, carbide guns are being mistaken for harmless fun.
“Unregulated and widely available, these devices are becoming more popular each year,” Dr. Rani added. “Even rapid surgeries cannot save many of the injured eyes. This trend must be urgently banned.”
Safety and prevention
Doctors are urging parents to keep children away from homemade or gas-based firecrackers, and to store materials like calcium carbide, pipes, and lighters out of reach. In case of burns or eye injuries, victims should immediately rinse with cold water and seek medical attention.
Authorities have yet to announce a ban on the sale or manufacture of these devices, even as hospitals continue to admit new patients following Diwali celebrations.
“The number of such cases is rising every year,” warned Dr. Rani. “What children see as a festive toy is, in reality, a homemade bomb.”
