For many families in Hyderabad, this Diwali ended not with sweets and sparklers but in the casualty ward of an eye hospital. Around 60 people suffered eye injuries while bursting firecrackers during the festival and sought treatment at the state-run Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital in Mehdipatnam, hospital authorities said on Monday.
Of them, 10 patients needed admission. Eight, including three children and five adults, were being prepared for surgery. Two cases were suspected to be serious. Doctors are most worried about the corneas: in several cases the clear front layer of the eye has been badly damaged, and a doctor at the hospital told news agency ANI that only about half of the admitted patients may fully regain their vision.
What happened at Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital
Patients began arriving on Sunday evening, as Diwali celebrations peaked across the city. By Monday morning, 50 to 55 people with cracker-related eye injuries had passed through the outpatient department, Dr Supraja said.
Hospital Superintendent Dr P Modini confirmed the rush. “Ten patients required admission, and eight of them were posted for surgery,” she told ANI on Monday. “Two appear to be serious. About the others, I cannot comment now. Only after the doctors’ team examines them in the operation theatre will I be able to comment.”
An earlier count on Sunday had put the number at 32 patients, six of them admitted, but the figure kept climbing through the night. One patient, doctors said, had completely lost vision in his right eye.
One admitted patient said he was lighting a cracker at around 7 to 8 pm on Sunday when it exploded before he could move away. “This left eye is completely damaged. I can see a little through my right eye, but not much,” he told ANI.
The hospital had kept beds and staff on standby for the festival rush.
Children among the worst hit
Children feature heavily in this year’s casualty list. Three of the eight patients posted for surgery are children, and several of the youngest patients are among those whose corneas have been damaged. Doctors fear some of them may face permanent vision loss.
AIMIM Nampally MLA Majid Hussain visited the hospital on Monday to check on the admitted patients. He said doctors had told him that one patient’s eyesight could not be restored, and that the number of cases had risen compared to last year. “We request everyone to have a very prosperous Diwali and enjoy every bit of it, but please celebrate under the supervision of elders,” he told ANI.
More cases across Hyderabad and beyond
Around 30 people with minor injuries were also treated at Gandhi Hospital and Osmania General Hospital in the city.
The pattern repeated across the country. In Delhi, Safdarjung Hospital recorded 135 Diwali-related burn cases over two days, while AIIMS reported 42 burn injuries, with one patient in critical condition. Tamil Nadu’s 108 emergency service logged 462 burn-related calls during the 48-hour festival period, and two people died of burn injuries in the state.
What doctors say can save your sight
Doctors say most firecracker eye injuries are preventable, and the first few minutes after an injury matter more than people realise. Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital’s resident medical officer, Dr Mohammad Ibrahim, shared simple advice that every family should know before the next festival.
- Children must never burst crackers alone. An adult should always supervise, and children should light crackers only in open spaces.
- Keep water nearby. A bucket of water within reach helps in the first moments after an accident.
- If the eye is injured, wash it gently with clean water. Do not rub the eye and do not try home remedies.
- Reach a hospital quickly, preferably an eye hospital. Delays can turn a treatable injury into permanent damage.
- Do not press on the injured eye or try to remove anything stuck in it. Cover it lightly and seek help.
Doctors also cautioned against the most common mistake: bending over a cracker to check why it did not go off. Most serious eye injuries, they said, happen in that moment, when a delayed cracker explodes at close range. For the patients still admitted, recovery will stretch over days, and for some the outcome will only be known after weeks of treatment.
FAQs
How many people suffered eye injuries in Hyderabad this Diwali?
Around 60 people sought treatment at Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital. About 30 more with minor injuries were treated at Gandhi Hospital and Osmania General Hospital.
How many patients needed surgery?
Ten patients were admitted at Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, and eight of them, including three children, were posted for surgery. Two cases were suspected to be serious.
Will all the patients regain their vision?
Doctors said only about 50 per cent may fully regain their vision, because the cornea has been damaged in several cases. One patient has already lost vision in his right eye.
What should you do if a firecracker injures your eye?
Wash it gently with clean water, do not rub or press on it, skip home remedies, and rush to the nearest eye hospital as quickly as possible.
Why do most firecracker eye injuries happen?
Most happen when people bend over a cracker to check why it did not burst, or when children burst crackers without adult supervision.
The patients are still under treatment. This report will be updated as doctors share more details.
