Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel and Pokhara Metropolitan Mayor Dhanraj Acharya sustained burn injuries due to balloon explosion during the opening ceremony of Pokhara Tourism Year on Saturday. Both were airlifted to Kathmandu and admitted to Burn Hospital in Kirtipur for further treatment, ANI reports. It is reported that the balloons which were kept ready to be released came in contact with the fire poppers and exploded.
As per the police, the incident occurred during the inauguration of Pokhara Visit Year 2025, when a hydrogen-filled balloon exploded after coming in contact with fire poppers.
While Acharya was taken to Fishtail Hospital, Paudel received primary treatment at Gandaki Hospital. Both of them were transported to Kirtipur Burn Hospital in Kathmandu on Saturday afternoon via a Simrik Air helicopter for further treatment. New agency PTI quotes Pun Lama, the mayor's private secretary, saying that Paudel sustained injuries in his head and hand while Acharya suffered burns on his face.
Both were airlifted to Kathmandu's Kirtipur Burn Hospital Kathmandu through Simrik Air helicopter for further treatment after receiving first-aid treatment at a hospital in Pokhara, Lama said. However, the conditions of both of them are out of danger, Lama added.
(With inpus from agencies)