Khordha, Jan 17: In a heart-wrenching incident that highlights the ongoing danger of toys and balloons found in snack packets, a six-year-old boy from Khordha district tragically lost his life after swallowing a balloon from a chips packet. The boy, identified as Tapas Kumar from Nidhipur village in Begunia Tehsil, was playing with the balloon he received with his snack when the balloon got stuck in his food pipe, causing severe breathing difficulties.

According to reports, Tapas' father, Abhaya Paikaray, bought a chips packet for his son yesterday. After enjoying the chips, Tapas began blowing up the balloon, but tragically swallowed it. As Tapas began to struggle for breath, his parents, with the help of villagers, rushed him to the nearest hospital. However, his condition worsened, and he was later transferred to the Khordha District Headquarters Hospital (DHH). Despite all efforts, doctors at the DHH declared Tapas dead.

This incident has left the community in shock, as the tragic death of the young boy has become a major topic of discussion in the village. The case is part of a troubling trend in Odisha, where similar incidents involving toys and balloons from snack packets have led to injuries and fatalities.

Earlier this week, an eight-year-old boy in Sagadaghat village, under the Titilagarh police limits in Balangir district, lost vision in one eye after a toy inside a snack packet exploded. In another case in November 2025, a four-year-old boy from Musimaha village in Kandhamal died after swallowing a toy found inside a chips packet.

These incidents have sparked concerns about the safety of snacks and the potential hazards posed by the toys and balloons that come with them. Authorities are urged to take action to prevent such tragedies and ensure the safety of children.