A terrifying incident unfolded in Mumbai's Goregaon West area on Monday night when dozens of gas-filled balloons exploded inside a residential building lift, leaving a young student and a delivery person with serious burn injuries. The Goregaon police have registered a case of negligence against the shop owner involved in this alarming episode.
Details of the Lift Explosion Incident
The incident occurred at Amol Tower in Goregaon West around 10:30 PM. According to police reports, a delivery person named Raju Kumar Mahato (32) entered the building lift carrying approximately 10 to 12 gas-filled balloons that had been ordered by a resident, Arpit Jain, for a family birthday celebration. Shortly after Mahato entered the lift, he was followed by 21-year-old student Himani Tapriya and another individual.
Sudden Explosion Causes Severe Injuries
"Suddenly, the balloons in his hand exploded, causing serious injuries to my right arm, neck and stomach," stated Tapriya in her police complaint. The violent explosion resulted in burn injuries to both Mahato and Tapriya, with the student suffering burns on her arm, neck, and stomach areas.
Tapriya, who hails from Surat, had just arrived from her hometown to visit her aunt when the unfortunate incident occurred. She had entered the building lift to reach her aunt's flat when the delivery person carrying the balloons joined her in the confined space.
Police Investigation and Legal Action
The Goregaon police have registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 125 (negligence) against the shop owner, T K Jaiswal. Police officials revealed that Jaiswal has been served a notice in connection with the incident.
Negligence Allegations Against Shop Owner
"Jaiswal did not provide safety instructions to the delivery person, which led to the incident," stated an officer from the Goregaon police station. The police investigation found that the delivery person was not provided with any safety equipment or proper instructions for handling the gas-filled balloons, constituting what authorities describe as clear negligence on the part of the employer.
In her formal complaint, Tapriya alleged that the incident occurred due to negligence and careless behavior by Mahato's employer. Police confirmed that Tapriya was out of danger after receiving immediate medical assistance following the explosion.
Safety Concerns and Aftermath
This incident has raised serious questions about safety protocols for handling potentially hazardous materials like gas-filled balloons in residential areas. The confined space of the building lift likely intensified the impact of the explosion, resulting in more severe injuries than might have occurred in an open area.
Police officials emphasized that proper safety measures and instructions could have prevented this dangerous situation. The case continues to be investigated as authorities examine whether additional safety violations occurred in the handling and delivery of the gas-filled balloons.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper safety protocols when dealing with materials that can pose explosion risks, particularly in confined spaces like building elevators where multiple people may be present.
