Calcium Carbide Gun Injuries: 300 Eye Trauma Cases in Bhopal Despite ICMR Warnings

Oct 28, 2025 04:50 pm CST

Despite warnings from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) about the dangers of calcium carbide guns, nearly 300 eye injury cases were reported in Bhopal during Diwali celebrations. These unlicensed "toy guns" cause severe chemical burns when calcium carbide reacts with water to produce explosive acetylene gas, resulting in at least 30 patients losing vision in one eye. Only after this tragedy did authorities finally ban their manufacture and sale.