Indore District Administration Bans Carbide Guns and Social Media Videos Following Serious Eye Injuries

The Indore district administration has banned carbide guns and related social media videos after numerous eye injuries were reported during Diwali. The decision aims to protect public health and safety.

The Indore district administration has prohibited the use of carbide toy guns after they caused serious eye injuries to at least 31 people, mostly children, during Diwali. The police have also banned creating and sharing videos featuring these guns on social media. These homemade devices are crafted using a gas lighter, PVC pipe, and calcium carbide, which produces acetylene gas that explodes upon ignition.

Carbide Guns Banned in Indore

District Magistrate Shivam Verma issued an order under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, stating that these illegally made guns harm public health and the environment. Consequently, their manufacture, storage, sale, and use are now completely prohibited. Section 163 allows magistrates to issue urgent orders to prevent public danger or injury.

Police Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh instructed all police stations to enforce this ban strictly. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotiya confirmed that any violation would result in a First Information Report under section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Offenders could face up to one year in prison, a fine of Rs 5,000, or both.

Health Impact and Government Response

Dr. Madhav Prasad Hasani, Indore's Chief Medical and Health Officer, reported that hospitals treated 31 patients with severe eye injuries from carbide gun accidents during Diwali. Most patients were children from various districts in Madhya Pradesh and one from Jharkhand. The patients' ages ranged from three to 31 years.

Carbide guns had already been banned in Bhopal and Gwalior due to similar incidents. Later that day, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited some victims at Hamidia Hospital's Ophthalmology Ward. He assured them of the best treatment and promised assistance from the Chief Minister's Voluntary Grant.

The CM met with victims like Prashant Malviya from Nariyalkheda and Karan Panthi from Garib Nagar Chhola. Most victims were teenagers who suffered injuries while using or being near carbide guns. Prajapati shared his experience of getting injured by others using these guns.

Family members of the injured expressed satisfaction with the treatment at Hamidia Hospital. They have advised others against using carbide guns. The CM was accompanied by health department principal secretary Sandeep Yadav and public relations commissioner Deepak Kumar Saxena during his visit.

With inputs from PTI