Toy Explosion in Chips Packet Injures 8-Year-Old, Eye Seriously Damaged

Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Parents are being warned to be extra cautious about small toys included in snack or chocolate packets, as these can pose serious hazards to children. In a shocking incident in Odisha, an eight-year-old boy lost vision in one eye after a toy inside a chips packet exploded.

Incident Details
The incident occurred in Shagardghat village of Balangir district. Ankesh, an eight-year-old, had purchased a packet of chips on his way back from tuition. The packet contained a small toy. When he reached home, he began playing with the toy in the kitchen while his mother was cooking. Accidentally, the toy came into contact with a gas stove, causing it to explode violently. The blast was so intense that it injured Ankesh’s face severely, with doctors confirming that one of his eyes was badly damaged.

His parents have filed a complaint at Titlagarh Police Station, demanding strict action against the company and compensation for their child.

A Growing Safety Concern
This is not the first accident involving toys in snack packets in Odisha. A few days ago, in Musimaha village near Daringbadi block, Kandhamal district, a four-year-old child, Bigal Pradhan, tragically died after swallowing a plastic toy from a chips packet bought by his father. The toy became lodged in his throat, and despite being rushed to the nearby Group Health Centre, he was declared dead.

Authorities and parents are now urging stricter safety standards for toys included in snacks to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.