10 November,2026 04:36 PM IST | Kota (Rajasthan) | mid-day online correspondent
The boy, identified as Sajan, belonged to a Kalbeliya family in Bundi and was bursting firecrackers alone outside his house. Representational pic
A 12-year-old boy died in a firecracker explosion in Rajasthan's Bundi after he lit a 'sutli bomb' (firecracker) inside an inverted steel glass, police said on Tuesday.
The force of the explosion shattered the steel glass into small fragments, which pierced the boy's chest like pellets. He collapsed at the spot, bleeding profusely, around 1 pm on Monday, a day after Diwali, PTI reported.
The incident took place near Nanakpuria Tiraha on Mandi Road, within the jurisdiction of Bundi Sadar Police Station.
The boy, identified as Sajan, belonged to a Kalbeliya family in Bundi and was bursting firecrackers alone outside his house. The rest of his family members were inside the house preparing for Govardhan Puja, police said.
After receiving information about the incident, Kotwali Station House Officer (SHO) Ramesh Arya and personnel from the Sadar Police Station rushed to the hospital.
Bundi Municipal Council Chairman Bharat Sharma also visited the hospital to offer condolences and assured the family of all possible assistance.
Police confirmed the incident on Tuesday and said the boy's body was handed over to his family after a post-mortem examination. Further investigation into the matter is underway, PTI reported.
In a separate incident, a 16-year-old boy died after the slab of a shop storing firecrackers collapsed following an explosion in Mumbai's Malad area, officials said on Tuesday.
According to PTI, the unfortunate incident occurred at 9:56 pm on Monday, November 9 at the ground-floor shop on Abdul Hamid Marg in Malvani, the official said.
A civic official said, "Following an explosion of firecrackers, the shop's slab collapsed, and a blaze also erupted."
The fire was confined to firecrackers and electrical wiring and installations spread over about 20 by 30 feet inside the shop and was extinguished by 10:36 pm, according to the fire brigade.
A boy, who was reported missing after the incident, was later found charred to death inside the shop, the civic official said.
Furthermore, the deceased has been identified as Shanwaz Niyaz Khan, suffering 100 per cent burns, the official added.
While several accidental fires linked to firecrackers were reported across Mumbai on Sunday night, Awaaz Foundation conducted its annual monitoring of noise levels and air quality across the city.
The foundation recorded the highest concentration of firecracker activity on Lakshmi Pujan day, Sunday, between 8 pm and 11:15 pm. Its members monitored areas including Carter Road in Bandra, Mahim, Dadar, Shivaji Park, Prabhadevi, Worli, Haji Ali, Marine Drive, Cuffe Parade, and Colaba.
According to the foundation, former firecracker hotspots such as Marine Drive and Shivaji Park witnessed fewer crackers this year, with most activity sporadic and spread across neighbourhoods. The readings were lower than those recorded in 2023, when Marine Drive registered noise levels of 82-117 dB between 9 pm and 11.25 pm. Shivaji Park recorded 99 dB at 7.45 pm and 95 dB at 11.45 pm, while Carter Road registered 72-85 dB at 7 pm.
(With PTI inputs)
