4-year-old girl loses vision in left eye after cracker mishap

A four-year-old Pune girl, who was brought to the state-run J.J. Hospital on Sunday after suffering a burn injury due to firecrackers, has lost vision in her left eye. Doctors have said a stone fragment was embedded in the eye and it is likely to be taken out in an operation.

The victim, Akanksha Kanojya, was watching crackers being burst with her relatives, when the accident happened. She was rushed to a local hospital from where she was referred to J.J. Hospital.

Akanksha’s father Umesh Kanojya (30) said, “My daughter was standing at the window when the incident took place. After a cracker burst, her left eye started bleeding.”

J.J. Hospital dean Dr T.P. Lahane, said, “This child wasn’t bursting crackers, but she was watching others do so from her window. We will perform an operation on Wednesday, but it is a serious injury.”

“It appears that a 2-cm-long stone that was attached to the cracker got lodged within the eye. She won’t be able to see with it now,” said Dr Lahane.

Dr Lahane further said, “So far, we have seen nine patients with cracker-related injuries. We see many cases every year, however this year the number of cases are fewer.”

When asked what one is supposed to do in case of similar emergencies, Dr Lahane said, “In case of severe burns over the face and eyes, avoid self-medication and rush to the nearest doctor. At times it, may call for hospitalisation and even immediate intervention (surgery).”