Nepal Deputy PM Paudel, Pokhara mayor sustain burn injuries during inauguration of event, air lifted to Kathmandu

The Pokhara Visit Year, which is scheduled to attract about two million tourists in 2025, was being inaugurated on Saturday when Minister Paudel and Mayor Acharya were injured due to a fire in the hydrogen filled balloons.

Nepal Deputy PM, Pokhara Mayor sustain burn injuries in balloon explosion, admitted at hospital Read#Nepal #Pokhara #HydrogenBalloonExplosion pic.twitter.com/S27TmofakO

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Mayor’s private secretary Pun Lama told PTI that Deputy PM Paudel sustained injuries in his head and hand while Mayor Acharya suffered burns to his face.

According to the Kathmandu Post, Acharya was first flown to Fishtail Hospital and Paudel was admitted to Gandaki Hospital where he received primary treatment. Both the leaders were later flown in a Simrik air helicopter to Kirtipur Burn Hospital in Kathmandu on Saturday afternoon.

Lama further stated that both the injured leaders were reportedly out of danger. Reports suggested that the ignition in hydrogen filled balloons started due to spark in an automatic switch.

The incident did not hamper the progress of ‘Pokhara Visit Year’ and it continued without being suspended, Nepal’s local media reported.