November 03, 2026: ASG Hospital Limited has launched ‘Surakshit Ankhein, Surakshit Diwali’, a children’s eye safety initiative for the festive season. Under the initiative, children below 15 years of age who suffer firecracker-related eye injuries will receive treatment at ASG Eye Hospital under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. The initiative will run from 4th November 2026 to 12th November 2026 at 200+ ASG Eye Hospital centres across 95+ cities.
The campaign has a simple message - celebrate responsibly and protect the sparkle in every child’s eye. Treatment under the initiative will include first aid, emergency eye care and surgery where required. Medicines and optical products, such as spectacles, are not included, and terms and conditions apply. Families can call the dedicated helpline, 1800 1211 804, for guidance and to be directed to the nearest participating centre.
Firecracker-related eye injuries increase every Diwali, and children make up a large share of the cases. Injuries to the cornea and other parts of the front of the eye are among the most common, and some can cause lasting damage to vision if they are not treated quickly by an eye specialist. The first few hours after an injury often decide how well the eye recovers. During Diwali last year, more than 500 children were treated for firecracker eye injuries at ASG centres.
Dr. Arun Singhvi, MD & CEO, ASG Hospital Limited, said: “Diwali is a festival for which children wait all year, and a few seconds near a firecracker should not cost a child their eyesight. Most of these injuries can be prevented with simple precautions and close adult supervision. If an injury does happen, time is critical and the child should quickly be brought to an eye specialist. Through ‘Surakshit Ankhein, Surakshit Diwali’, we want to help families celebrate safely and make sure an injured child gets specialist care without delay.”
Dr. Vikas Jain, Group COO, ASG Eye Hospital, said: “Our teams across centres are prepared with the necessary trauma protocols in place through the festive peak, so that children with eye injuries are assessed and treated without any delay. Parents who are unsure what to do can call our helpline for first-aid guidance and directions to the nearest centre. We strongly advise families not to try home remedies such as kajal, ointments or eye drops, as these can make an injury worse.”
ASG Eye Hospital advises families to follow five simple precautions:
1. Keep a safe distance: light fireworks at arm’s length, preferably with a long incense stick, and step back straight away.
2. Wear protective glasses: children, and adults lighting fireworks, should wear protective eyewear.
3. Supervise children: children should handle fireworks only under the watch of an adult.
4. Never lean over fireworks: do not bend over a cracker while lighting it and never go back to one that has failed to go off.
5. Never rub an injured eye: rubbing can push particles deeper and make the injury worse.
In case of an injury, keep the child calm and both eyes as still as possible. Do not rub or press the eye or try to remove anything stuck in it. Do not wash it with a jet of water, or apply kajal, ointments, drops or any home remedy. Cover the eye lightly with a clean shield, such as the bottom of a paper cup, without putting pressure on it. Call the helpline on 1800 1211 804 and take the child to the nearest ASG Eye Hospital centre or eye emergency service at once. Early specialist care can make the difference between recovery and permanent loss of vision.