Madhya Pradesh's Carbide Gun Crisis: How Negligence Turned Diwali Deadly

Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar claimed that ICMR had suggested a ban on the use of carbide guns in 2023, but the government did not take that warning seriously. He said it was a classic example of negligence that caused the eyes of several children to be damaged. “Imagine the pain of children who lost their eyesight and are battling in hospitals. It shows irresponsible behaviour of the BJP government. One after another health crisis are being reported in Madhya Pradesh but the BJP government has maintained silence,” Singhar said after meeting some children admitted at Hamidia hospital in Bhopal.

In a targeted attack at Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, who looks after the state's health department, the Congress leader said that if Shukla cannot handle the department, he should resign from the cabinet. “If Health Minister Rajendra Shukla is not capable to handle the health department, why has Chief Minister Mohan Yadav not sent him back to Rewa,” Singhar asked, alleging that the state's health and medical system has completely collapsed after Shukla took over the department.

Although the government has not given any specific number of people affected by carbide guns, the opposition claimed that nearly 300 people have been harmed and nearly 20 children have lost their eyes. The worst-hit district is Vidisha, where local markets openly sold these crude “carbide guns” despite a government ban issued on October 18. The makeshift devices, priced between Rs 150 and Rs 200, are being made and sold like toys, but they explode like bombs.

Doctors at AIIMS-Bhopal said there were two primary types of eye injury from these devices — acid and alkali. While acid injuries tend to be less severe due to limited penetration, alkali injuries are significantly more dangerous.

- IANS