Teen killed after iron pipe filled with firecrackers hits her during Diwali in Ahmedabad

A 16-year-old girl was killed after being struck on the forehead by an iron pipe filled with firecrackers that was hurled carelessly during Diwali celebrations in Ahmedabad’s New Ranip area on the night of October 21.

As per the FIR lodged by the victim’s father, Mineshbhai Purohit (42), a resident of New Ranip, his elder daughter Heena (16), a Class 11 student at National School in Ghatlodia, suffered grievous injuries when a pipe stuffed with firecrackers flew towards her while she and her friend were standing near Patel Dairy Parlour, close to their society.

Purohit stated that his family, along with other residents, had gathered outside their society gate around midnight to burst firecrackers. Around the same time, Hena and her friend Manya Patel had stepped away towards the corner dairy parlour. “Within minutes, we heard a loud explosion from that direction. Manya’s father shouted for help, and when we reached the spot, I saw my daughter bleeding from her forehead and lying unconscious,” the complaint reads.

Hena was rushed to Sola Civil Hospital for treatment, where doctors declared her dead on October 22 at 6.25 pm.

Upon reviewing CCTV footage from nearby societies, the complainant alleged that three youths, Neel Hirenbhai Rami (19), a resident of the same society and two 13-year-old minors were seen filling an iron pipe with firecrackers and igniting them on the public road in front of the Om Kunteshwar Mahadev Temple.

The footage purportedly shows the pipe falling and shooting off at high speed, striking Heena on the forehead. “They were bursting firecrackers carelessly and negligently, using iron pipes that had been scorched from repeated use,” Purohit stated.

Following the complaint, the Sabarmati police registered an offence against the three accused under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) about negligent acts causing death. 

Heena’s postmortem examination was conducted at Sola Civil Hospital, and police have begun collecting statements from witnesses, including Manya Patel, her father Satyambhai, and other residents of the society.

A police officer said preliminary findings suggest that the accused were using makeshift iron pipes to intensify the blast of the firecrackers. “These can behave unpredictably and turn into dangerous projectiles when misused,” the officer added.

The incident has sparked concern among residents over the unsafe practice of modifying or enhancing firecrackers during festive celebrations.