A heart-breaking incident in Odisha has once again exposed the deadly risks associated with toys and objects packed inside snack items, after a six-year-old boy allegedly died from choking on a balloon found in a chips packet.
Balloon from snack packet turns fatal
The victim, Tapas Kumar, son of Abhaya Paikaray, was a resident of Nidhipur village in Begunia tehsil of Khurda district. According to local sources, the child had finished eating the chips and later began playing with a balloon that came inside the packet.
While trying to inflate the balloon using his mouth, it reportedly slipped into his throat and became lodged in his food pipe. The child soon developed severe breathing difficulties, triggering panic among family members.
Desperate rush to hospital ends in tragedy
Tapas was rushed to a nearby hospital by his parents with the help of villagers. As his condition worsened, he was referred to the Khurda District Headquarters Hospital. However, doctors there declared the child brought dead, leaving the family devastated.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the village and sparked widespread outrage among residents, who have questioned how such hazardous items continue to be packed with food products meant for children.
A disturbing pattern of similar incidents
This is not an isolated case. Earlier this week, an eight-year-old boy from Sagadaghat village under Titilagarh police limits in Balangir district reportedly lost vision in one eye after a toy found inside a snack packet allegedly exploded.
In another tragic incident reported in November 2025, a four-year-old boy from Musimaha village in Kandhamal district died after swallowing a toy found inside a chips packet.
Growing calls for accountability
Child rights activists and concerned parents are demanding stricter enforcement of food safety regulations and a complete ban on including small toys or balloons inside edible products. Many have urged authorities to take immediate action to prevent further loss of young lives.