KATHMANDU, Feb 15: Minister for Finance Bishnu Paudel and Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya have been airlifted to Kiritpur Burn Hospital to receive treatment for the injuries they sustained after a cluster of helium-filled balloons they were supposed to release amid a program at Pokhara caught fire.
A fire spark injured Minister Paudel and Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya, during the inauguration of Pokhara Visit Year 2025. The incident occurred when they pressed an electric switch during the balloon release ceremony at the event held at Pokhara Stadium.
Make burn care treatment available in Nepal
Chief of the District Police Office (DPO), Kaski, SP Shyam Babu Oliya informed Republica the accident took place when an electric switch for releasing the balloon made contact with the balloon bouquet and the balloons caught fire. “When the electric switch was pressed, a balloon burst, and the spark burned the cheeks of Mayor Acharya and Finance Minister Paudel,” SP Oliya said.
Oliya added that Minister Paudel and Mayor Acharya were initially taken to the Gandaki Medical College hospital for treatment.
