Negligence at 'Pokhara Visit Year' Event Leaves Finance Minister, Mayor Injured

An accident at the "Pokhara Visit Year" announcement ceremony on Saturday, caused by negligence, left Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel and Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya with burn injuries.

The event, aimed at attracting two million domestic tourists, took a tragic turn when balloons caught fire and exploded while a lamp was being lit using a remote control.

Both Poudel and Acharya suffered burns from the fire and were immediately taken to nearby hospitals and later airlifted to the capital for treatment at Kirtipur-based Nepal Cleft and Burn Centre. According to the hospital's press release, they sustained 5-6% burns on their faces, which could potentially affect their airways and lungs. Due to this risk, they are being treated under high surveillance in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Finance Minister Poudel also suffered burns on his left hand, while Mayor Acharya sustained additional facial burns. A specialized medical team, including burn specialists and emergency care staff, has been assigned to their treatment.

Following the incident, security personnel rescued Mayor Acharya and transported him to Fishtail Hospital in Pokhara. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Poudel, who sustained burns on his face and hands, was taken to Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital for initial treatment. Doctors there recommended immediate transfer to a specialized burn hospital. Both were then flown to Kathmandu via Fishtail Air and admitted to Kirtipur-based hospital.

The accident occurred while Finance Minister Poudel and Mayor Acharya were standing in front of the stage, preparing to inaugurate the "Visit Pokhara Year" campaign and unveil its logo. A "spark machine," designed to create visual effects by emitting flames, was being used on stage. At the same time, two large bundles of balloons filled with highly flammable hydrogen gas were placed nearby.

As the event announcer enthusiastically described the lighting of the lamp and the unveiling of the logo, assistants handed Minister Poudel and Mayor Acharya a bunch of hydrogen-filled balloons meant to be released into the sky. Suddenly, the spark machines ignited flames around the stage, and one of the bundles of hydrogen-filled balloons exploded. The resulting fire engulfed the minister and the mayor, burning their faces. In panic, both ran on stage as the flames spread.

Authorities are now investigating the incident, and questions have been raised about the safety measures in place during the event.