An eight year old boy was critically injured and later succumbed to his injuries after shrapnel from an explosion hit him while he was playing with fireworks outside his house in Parsa district, southern Nepal.
The young boy has been identified as Kundan Sahani who lives in Ward No. 2, Pakaha Mainpur Rural Municipality, Parsa.
Police said that the incident took place around 8am on Monday. The boy had been playing with a firecracker outside his home.
Firecracker explodes inside metal Pipe
Parsa Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Chakra Bahadur Mall said that the child placed the firecracker inside an iron pipe before lighting it.
During the explosion, shrapnel flew from both ends of the pipe and hit the centre of the boy’s chest.
The boy was rushed to Tarai Hospital in Birgunj but doctors pronounced him dead around 8.45am.
Playing with firecrackers can be extremely dangerous
Playing with firecrackers can be extremely dangerous and if placed inside metal pipes, can cause explosions which cause sharp shrapnel to fly in random directions.
Children are most at risk as they can often lack an understanding of how dangerous firecrackers can be.
Parents should ensure children stay away from firecrackers
This incident is a reminder to parents to ensure children stay away from firecrackers.
Even small fireworks can cause serious life threatening injuries. Children should never be allowed to play around with firecrackers, metal pipes or homemade explosives.
As families celebrate during festivals, it is important to take precautions and ensure children are under adult supervision to prevent any avoidable accidents.