JOIN USTen persons, including children, were injured in a giant helium balloon blast here on Friday.
It is said that a group of people was making arrangements to welcome Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who will visit the town on March 25, and was filling the balloons from a cylinder, when the mishap occurred.
The injured are Dasharath (46) and Varun (25) from Bengaluru, Preethi (12), Madesh (11), Rahul (12), Shabnam (10), Kiran (22), Abhi (21), Ramesh (25) and Sindhu (20)
Madesh, Preethi, Kiran and Abhi have sustained serious burn injuries. They were provided first aid at the taluk hospital and were later shifted to the K R Hospital in Mysuru. The labourers, who were filling the balloon and, the children watching it were injured in the blast. The intensity of the blast was so severe that the front portion of a nearby house was damaged.
Speaking to DH, Varun, one of the injured, said, "We were filling the balloons with helium gas from a cylinder to release it during the visit of Congress leaders. Two balloons were tested and were released. When the third balloon was being filled, it burst".
The contractor would be subjected to inquiry. A probe will be conducted and action would be taken against the guilty, said the police.