About 80 cases of eye injury reported from various parts of the city this Deepavali. For two-year-old Rithwik, who sustained injury to his right eye, it was the most unexpected blast.

Nearly 80 cases of eye injury were reported from various parts of the city on Wednesday as Hyderabadis celebrated Deepavali. For 13-year-old Shashikanth, the festival of lights wasn’t much of a celebration. He had no inkling that the ‘mirchi’ bomb he had flung in the air would blow up on his face, after which he was rushed to the Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital here.

Lying in the hospital bed post eye surgery, Shashikanth was among the six patients who were admitted to the hospital on Wednesday night. Recalling the mishap, he said that the cracker exploded right in front of his face, leaving a searing injury on his right eye. A native of Chegunda village in Medak district, he was brought to Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital by his grandmother.

For two-year-old Rithwik, who sustained injury to his right eye, it was the most unexpected blast.

“I was just cradling him and walking with his head resting on my shoulder. Suddenly, a 10-year-old threw a cracker from behind,” recalled Vijaya Laxmi, his grandmother, who brought him to the eye hospital from Maheshwaram on the outskirts of the city.

Bhavani, Rithwik’s mother, said that they sought treatment at a private hospital on Wednesday night, but could not find any eye specialists as it was a holiday. Another casualty of fire cracker explosion was 23-year-old Mohammed Siraj from the city. His right eye too was badly injured in a similar incident when a cracker he was lighting exploded on his face. A senior doctor treating them said that patients who were admitted would be discharged in a day or two depending on their condition. Out of the six who were undergoing treatment, four did not require operation, he added.

M. Ram Rathod, Superintendent, Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, said that a total of 39 patients who were injured by fire crackers had been admitted in the hospital on Wednesday night. Of them, 29 were treated in the out-patient section, while the remaining six were admitted. “Four of the patients were severely injured, as their corneas were damaged,” he informed.