What is an onion bomb? Andhra man blown into pieces after sackful of firecracker accidentally detonates- The Week

In a tragic incident, a bike-borne man was killed on Thursday afternoon after the firecrackers he was carrying accidently detonated. The man, identified as Sudhakar from Andhra Pradesh’s Eluru, was reportedly carrying ‘onion bombs’, a powerful firecracker, for Diwali celebrations.

The shocking video, which has gone viral on social media, shows the man riding a two-wheeler with a friend through an alleyway. A sudden blast occurs after which smoke and fire engulfs his vehicle.

The pillion rider and six others have been injured and is currently undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. The condition of two is said to be serious.

The police have launched an investigation into the incident but reports hint that the two-wheeler he was riding fell into a pothole causing the bombs inside his sack to shift and collide with each other, triggering an explosion. There are also reports that the bombs from the sack fell into the pothole.

Two vehicles parked in the vicinity also suffered damage in the impact of the explosion.

What is an onion bomb?

An onion bomb is a powerful firecracker that comes in the shape of an onion. It can produce high-declibel bang with a sudden flash, equal to that of an IED or a small dynamite. The bombs which flood the market during Diwali season is of great demand due to its impact.

However, many have issued warnings about the use of onion bombs it can cause devastating explosion that can kill a human instantaneously. In some countries like the UK, the onion bombs are only use for professional displays and not available for sale to the general public.