Not blind but not the same: Kids still bear brunt of carbide guns

BHOPAL: At 12, Senu is back in school, but his dream of studying at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya remains out of reach. A year after a carbide gun injured his right eye during Dhanteras festivities in Ashta, the farmer's son still wears protective glasses outdoors and occasionally experiences swelling.The ordeal may have occurred last year but it has cast a pall of gloom over his future and that of several kids across MP., for whom the threat of carbide guns is a reality they have to contend with every day.Carbide guns were sold openly by the roadside in Bhopal, Gwalior and other cities, promoted by viral reels and early warning signs- like FIRs on cases and a 2023 ICMR report- had went unheeded across the state until it was too late. Senu and kids like him are still bearing the brunt of such delays in action.Senu had prepared for the entrance examination for Class VI at the residential school, buying an application form for Rs 500 and preparation books worth Rs 700. But the injury and the struggle to arrange money for specialised treatment disrupted his preparations. Now studying in Class VI at a regular school, he hopes for another chance, with his father seeking a govt exception to the admission process. For Jitendra Verma, a farmer from Khamkheda Jatra, around 14 km from Ashta, the injury brought a financial burden alongside his son's medical ordeal. He says he spent nearly Rs 15,000 on treatment in Bhopal, borrowing money after initially seeking care locally. A year later, the family has received no compensation, despite possessing an Ayushman Bharat card, he says. Already burdened by other loans, Jitendra continues to seek govt assistance.Senu's case reflects the longer-term consequences of carbide gun injuries reported during Diwali festivities in Madhya Pradesh. An ophthalmologist at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, Dr Aditi Dubey, who treated such patients, says around eight to ten children have suffered lasting effects on their vision. Although these kids are not necessarily blind, impaired eyesight could affect their eligibility for certain jobs and entrance exams that require 6/6 vision, depending on the applicable medical standards.A year on, Senu continues his education, but the injury has left his family grappling with unanswered questions over compensation and his educational future. His father's appeal for another chance at Navodaya highlights the challenges children face when a medical emergency disrupts an opportunity they had worked towards.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bhopal | Silver Rate in Bhopal | Bank Holidays in Bhopal | Public Holidays in Bhopal | Petrol Price in Bhopal | Diesel Price in Bhopal | CNG Price in Bhopal | LPG Price in BhopalStay updated with the latest Bhopal news. Download the TOI App.