Eight-Year-Old Boy Loses Eye in Chips Packet Explosion in Odisha’s Balangir

Balangir, Odisha: A deeply distressing incident was reported on Monday from Shagadghat village under the Titlagarh police station limits in Balangir district, where an eight-year-old boy lost an eye after a packet of chips allegedly exploded near a gas stove.

According to local sources, the child, son of resident Harpat, had purchased a packet of chips from a nearby shop and returned home after his tuition classes in the evening. While his mother, Bhanumati Harpal, was cooking in the kitchen, she briefly stepped outside to fetch water after lighting the gas stove.

During this time, the child reportedly went near the stove holding the chips packet. The packet allegedly slipped from his hand and came into contact with the flame, triggering a sudden explosion. The packet is said to have burst with significant force, striking the child directly in the face and causing severe injury to one eye.

Hearing the explosion and the child’s screams, the mother rushed back into the kitchen to find her son bleeding profusely, with one eye critically damaged. The child was immediately taken to a hospital, where doctors confirmed that the eye had suffered irreversible damage and that vision in the affected eye could not be restored.

The incident has left the family devastated. Speaking to reporters, the child’s mother said she had given her son money to buy biscuits, but he had instead purchased the chips. She questioned how food products meant for children could pose such serious dangers when exposed to fire, and called for stricter safety checks on packaged snack items sold in the market.

The child’s parents have lodged a formal complaint at the Titlagarh police station against the chips manufacturing company, demanding strict action and accountability. Police have registered an FIR and stated that an investigation is underway.

The incident has triggered widespread concern and anger in the area, raising serious questions about the safety standards, packaging materials, and quality control of packaged food products. Local residents have urged the authorities to conduct a thorough probe and implement stronger regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.