Overview
- A 10-year-old boy was injured when a hand-held firecracker exploded while he was bursting crackers outside his home in Narela on Sunday night and was later declared brought dead at hospital.
- Delhi Police have taken the body for post-mortem and opened an investigation to establish the exact device and the sequence of events that led to the fatal chest and burn injuries.
- The boy’s family has accused hospital staff of negligence and alleged police apathy, staging protests and saying he was still breathing when brought in, while officials say he was brought dead.
- Media outlets report a purported video showing the explosion and there is a key dispute between accounts that the device was a hand-held 'anar' and the family’s claim that a misfired rocket struck the child.
- Separately, Delhi Fire Services said it tackled a rubber-factory blaze in the Narela industrial area the same evening with seven tenders and no casualties, underscoring higher fire risk during Diwali celebrations.