Helium cylinder bursts inside Kalyan school, one dead

As per the local Kolsewadi police in Kalyan, the incident took place around 1.45pm on Thursday inside the premises of the CBSE-affiliated school when the vendor was inflating balloons using the helium cylinder.

“Due to excess pressure, the cylinder burst and there was a blast at the spot,” said DCP (Zone III) Sanjay Jadhav.

While the vendor, Ram Paras Prasad, succumbed to the injuries on the spot, at least eight children and five adults were rushed to nearby hospitals. Police said of the eight injured children, five sustained serious injuries. One of the children is in a critical condition, an officer said. The balloon vendor was known for the ‘high end’ balloons he sold whereby he would modulate the balloons in various shapes. He was hence quite popular with the children.

Senior inspector at Kolsewadi police station, Kalyanji Ghete, said they have registered an FIR against the school management and the balloon vender on charges causing death due to negligence.

“A case has been registered against the school as prima facie it appears that they allowed the balloon vender inside the school premises. Had he not been inside the premises, the management would not have been at fault,” Ghete said.

He added that the school had been claiming that it did not give Prasad the permission to enter the premises and the police are investigating if permission had been granted.