AIIMS Delhi treated 42 patients for burn injuries sustained during Diwali festivities, with 11 of them suffering serious burns, according to data released by the hospital's Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Burns Surgery on Monday, 9 November. The figures arrive as a 10-year-old boy died after a firecracker exploded in his hand in Delhi's Narela area on Sunday night.

AIIMS Delhi: Breakdown of Cases

Dr Maneesh Singhal, Head of the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Burns Surgery at AIIMS, confirmed that of the 42 patients treated, 31 sustained minor burn injuries while 11 suffered serious burns. Among the seriously injured, four are currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and seven are receiving care in general wards.

The data highlighted a significant impact on children: six children below the age of 10 sustained burn injuries. One of them — an eight-year-old child — sustained burns across 45 per cent of the body and is reportedly in a serious condition. Twelve cases were reported in the 10–18 age group, while the highest burden fell on adults aged 18 to 60, who accounted for 22 of the total cases. One person above the age of 60 also sustained serious burns.

So far, five patients have undergone surgery. At present, eight patients remain admitted, including one whose condition is described as serious. Of the 42 cases, 37 were caused directly by firecrackers, while two involved injuries from potash — including a 13-year-old child.

Safdarjung Hospital Records 135 Cases Over Two Days

Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital recorded 135 Diwali-related burn injury cases at their Burns Emergency Department over 7 and 8 November, according to officials. Of these, 129 were caused by firecrackers and six by diyas. Among those who sought treatment, 35 children with firecracker burns were treated on an outpatient basis at the hospital's OPD, while one child required admission for further care.

Anticipating the annual surge, the hospital had earmarked 20 beds for Diwali-related burn admissions. As of Monday, seven patients with Diwali-related injuries remained admitted. Doctors noted that most burn injuries involved the hands, underscoring the risks of directly handling firecrackers during celebrations.

Child Dies After Firecracker Blast in Narela

In a fatal incident, a 10-year-old boy died after a firecracker exploded in his hand while he was bursting crackers outside his home in Delhi's Narela area on the night of Sunday, 8 November, according to police. The child sustained fatal injuries from the blast. The case is among the most severe outcomes reported from the capital's Diwali celebrations this year.

Wider Context: A Recurring Public Health Concern

Firecracker-related burn injuries during Diwali represent a recurring strain on Delhi's specialised burn-care infrastructure. The combined tally from AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital alone exceeds 177 cases this festive period. Children and young adults are disproportionately affected year after year, prompting recurring calls from medical professionals for stricter enforcement of firecracker regulations and wider public awareness campaigns. This comes amid ongoing court-mandated restrictions on firecracker use in Delhi-NCR, the enforcement of which remains inconsistent, critics argue. The burden on ICU and burns-surgery capacity during the two-day festive window highlights a systemic gap between policy intent and ground-level outcomes.

Hospitals are expected to continue monitoring admitted patients over the coming days, with the condition of the most critically injured cases — including the eight-year-old with 45 per cent burns — closely watched by medical staff.