A 10-year-old boy died after a hand-held firecracker exploded in his hand during Diwali celebrations outside his house in Narela, northwest Delhi, on Sunday night, leaving him with fatal burn injuries to his chest. Police have initiated an investigation into the incident, while the child’s family has alleged that the hospital failed to make adequate efforts to save him.
The incident took place around 9.45 pm on November 8, when the boy, identified as Rishi, was bursting a flower-pot firecracker, commonly known as an ‘anar’, in front of his house. According to police, the firecracker exploded while he was holding it, causing injuries to his chest. The impact was severe enough to throw him backwards. A purported video of the incident shows the child holding the firecracker when it exploded. The explosion appears to engulf him in flames, causing him to fall backwards.
According to the police, the boy died following the explosion. A hospital subsequently informed them at around 10.50 pm that the child had been brought in dead with burn injuries sustained in the firecracker incident. His body was taken into police custody and sent for a post-mortem examination.
The incident has also triggered allegations from the family over the medical assistance provided after the explosion. The boy’s elder brother alleged that Rishi was still breathing when the family rushed him to the hospital, but that the medical staff did not make sufficient efforts to save him. “He was my younger brother. He was bursting a firecracker when it happened. We took him to the hospital, but the staff did not do much to save him,” his elder brother said. He further alleged that despite repeatedly requesting the doctors to examine the child, the family did not receive the medical attention they expected. The hospital’s position, as conveyed to the police, was that the boy had been brought dead.
The family has also questioned the circumstances surrounding the handling of the child’s body after his death. These allegations have not been independently established. Police are examining the circumstances of the explosion, including the nature of the firecracker used by the child. The post-mortem examination is expected to establish the medical cause of death and provide further clarity on the injuries sustained.
The death comes amid several firecracker-related incidents reported in the national capital during Diwali celebrations. According to Delhi Fire Services, it received 281 fire-related calls on the festival day, at least 24 of which were linked to firecracker-caused fires.
Although fire officials reported no major fire emergencies, the Narela incident has once again highlighted the risks of handling fireworks, particularly when children set them off without adequate safety precautions. Further investigation is underway.