The incident at Goregaon’s Amol Tower sparked a debate about the safety of using hydrogen balloons for festive decorations.
An explosion of gas-filled balloons in the elevator of a residential building in mumbai this week left two people with burnstriggering a negligent investigation, according to The Times of India.
The incident occurred at the Amol Tower in Goregaon, when several people were in the elevator with a deliveryman who was transporting about a dozen hydrogen balloons for a birthday party.
Serious accident in a confined space
According to the Daily Mailthe delivery driver, Raju Kumar Mahatoentered the elevator where 21-year-old student Himani Tapriya and other residents were already present. Security camera footage shows the exact moment the balloons burst, creating a blaze that engulfed the small space.
Police, quoted by the Daily Mail, explained that the balloons were intended for a family member’s birthday celebration in the building. Following the explosion, Mahato and Tapriya sustained minor injuries; Tapriya suffered wounds to her arm, neck, and abdomen. A third person escaped the elevator unharmed.
Security cameras captured the exact moment the balloons burst, filling the confined space of the elevator with flames (Video capture)
Tapriya told the Daily Mail that she had just arrived from Surat and was using the elevator to go to her aunt’s house when the deliveryman carrying entered the balloons, which exploded and caused her burns.
According to The Times of Indiadespite the panic, everyone present managed to exit the elevator before the fire spread beyond the building.
Legal consequences and debate on security
Medical personnel confirmed, according to both sources, that none of the injured individuals sustained serious injuries or were in life-threatening condition. The 32-year-old delivery driver did not require hospitalization.
Mumbai police have opened a negligence case against Jaiswalthe shopkeeper who sold the balloons. “Jaiswal has been charged under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (negligence) and has been notified of the charge,” a police spokesperson told the Daily Mail. Authorities said the shopkeeper failed to provide the delivery driver with safety instructions, which led to the accident.
The delivery driver and a young student were injured in the explosion, while another person escaped the elevator unharmed (Video capture)
It was determined that the balloons were filled with hydrogen, a gas frequently used in festive decorations, but which poses a fire risk.
According to the Daily Mailsimilar incidents have occurred elsewhere; For example, a recent explosion in Uzbekistan, where a lit birthday candle caused several balloons to burst in a shop, although no one was injured.
Lack of information and need for greater regulation.
The case sparked debate over the need for stricter regulations on the use of hydrogen balloons, especially in enclosed spaces. None of the sources indicated that buyers received warnings or guidance on the safe handling of these products at the time of purchase.
As the flames advanced inside the elevator, the people involved managed to escape before the fire spread, avoiding greater consequences.
The incident highlights the importance of informing users about the risks associated with festive products and of reviewing safety protocols for transporting and using them, especially in enclosed spaces.
