Bhopal bans carbide guns, illegal firecrackers for 2 months ahead of Diwali
Synopsis
Bhopal's top cop has banned carbide guns and illegal improvised firecrackers for two months ahead of Diwali — a direct response to recurring reports of irreversible eye injuries in the city and districts like Vidisha, Sagar, and Sehore. Violations now attract criminal liability under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Key Takeaways
The Commissioner of Police, Bhopal , has imposed a two-month ban on carbide guns, carbide cannons, and illegal firecrackers ahead of Diwali 2026 .
The order is issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 .
Devices made from iron, steel, or PVC pipes packed with explosives are specifically prohibited.
Residents in Bhopal , Vidisha , Sagar , and Sehore reportedly suffered irreversible eye injuries from carbide guns in recent years.
Violations are punishable under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 alongside other applicable laws.
Citizens may report violations to local police to help enforce the order during the festive season.
The Commissioner of Police, Bhopal, has imposed a two-month blanket ban on the manufacture, sale, storage, and use of illegal firework devices — including 'carbide guns', 'carbide cannons', and 'carbide lamps' — ahead of the Diwali 2026 festival season. The order, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, is aimed at preventing serious injuries and preserving public safety across Bhopal and its adjoining districts.
What the Order Covers
The ban prohibits the unauthorised manufacture, procurement, distribution, repair, assembly, purchase, sale, display, storage, import, or commercial availability of any prohibited firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices. It specifically targets devices fabricated from iron, steel, or PVC pipes packed with explosive substances designed to generate loud blasts.
Authorities noted that such devices involve the improper handling of flammable gases, calcium carbide, and other hazardous materials — significantly raising the risk of fires, explosions, and injuries in densely populated areas.
Why Bhopal Authorities Acted
The order references a troubling pattern over recent years: several residents in Bhopal and nearby districts of Vidisha, Sagar, and Sehore reportedly suffered irreversible eye damage following exposure to carbide guns. Officials flagged the heightened risk posed by these devices when used in crowded markets, residential colonies, public thoroughfares, and near schools.
'As in previous years, ensuring public peace, public safety and the protection of the lives and health of citizens during Diwali and other festivals remains a primary responsibility of the administration,' the order stated.
Penalties and Duration
The prohibition is effective for two months from the date of issuance. Violations will attract punishment under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in addition to other applicable laws. Any individual affected by the ban may approach the Commissioner of Police to seek relief or modification of the order.
What Citizens Should Do
Authorities have urged residents to refrain from using or trading in such devices and to report any violations to help maintain law and order during the festive period. The administration also called on citizens to opt for safer, licensed alternatives and to be mindful of the risks these improvised devices pose to communities.
The move follows similar pre-Diwali crackdowns in previous years and signals the administration's intent to take a firmer line on illegal pyrotechnic devices that have repeatedly caused preventable harm across Madhya Pradesh.
Point of View
And the administration has issued similar orders before. The recurring nature of the crackdown raises a pointed question: if the ban is annual, why does the injury pattern persist? The order's two-month window and criminal liability clause are stronger than typical advisories, but enforcement — particularly in peri-urban and semi-rural clusters — will determine whether this holds. A pattern of pre-festival orders without year-round surveillance of calcium carbide supply chains suggests the underlying problem is being managed at the symptom level rather than addressed at the source.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are carbide guns and why are they banned in Bhopal?
Carbide guns are improvised devices made from iron, steel, or PVC pipes packed with calcium carbide and other explosive substances to produce loud blasts. The Bhopal Commissioner of Police has banned them ahead of Diwali 2026 because they have caused irreversible eye injuries to several residents in Bhopal and nearby districts in recent years.
Under which law has the Bhopal ban been issued?
The ban has been issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Violations will be prosecuted under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in addition to other applicable laws.
How long will the carbide gun ban remain in force in Bhopal?
The prohibition is effective for two months from the date of issuance, covering the Diwali 2026 festive period and beyond. Any person affected by the order may approach the Commissioner of Police for relief or modification.
Which areas and devices are covered under the Bhopal firecracker ban?
The ban covers all of Bhopal and applies to carbide guns, carbide cannons, carbide lamps, and any pyrotechnic device made from iron, steel, or PVC pipes filled with explosive materials. The order prohibits manufacture, sale, storage, purchase, import, and use of such devices.
What should Bhopal residents do if they spot someone using carbide guns?
Authorities have urged citizens to report violations to local police to help maintain law and order during the festive season. Residents are also advised to avoid using or dealing in these devices and to opt for licensed, safer alternatives.
