The Home Ministry has formed a committee to investigate the balloon incident in Pokhara that left Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel and Pokhara Mayor Dhana Raj Acharya with burn injuries on Saturday.
Led by Kaski Chief District Officer (CDO) Bharatmani Pandey, the committee has been given 15 days to submit its report.
Members include Pokhara Metropolitan City’s Chief Administrative Officer Shivraj Chaulagain, Superintendent of Police Shyambabu Oliya, Armed Police Force No. 24 Battalion Chief Surya Prasad Timilsina, and Deputy Director of the National Investigation Department Suresh Kumar Tiwari. An explosives expert will also be part of the team, while Assistant CDO of Kaski, Ganga Bahadur Chhetri, will serve as the Member Secretary.
The explosion occurred during the inauguration of ‘Pokhara Visit Year 2025’ when balloons held by Paudel and Acharya caught sparks ignited moments ago and burst. A live broadcast showed Minister Paudel rushing back to the stage, removing his coat, while Mayor Acharya also reacted in distress.
After receiving initial treatment in Pokhara, both were medevaced to Kathmandu and admitted to the Nepal Cleft and Burn Center at Kirtipur Hospital.
“The preliminary assessment indicates 5-6% burns. However, as the injuries are on their faces, there is a risk of damage to their windpipe and chest, necessitating close observation,” the hospital said in a statement after admitting them in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Meanwhile, the death toll from a cooking gas cylinder explosion in Kathmandu has risen to four.
The incident occurred on February 6 at a momo shop in Kamalpokhari, leaving 11 people seriously injured. Four victims succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at the Nepal Cleft and Burn Center, while the remaining seven continue to undergo treatment.
(With inputs from RSS)
