A tragic explosion near the iconic Mysuru Palace has claimed three lives and injured four, with police investigations uncovering a critical public safety hazard involving a custom-made, substandard container used to fill balloons.
Details of the Mysuru Palace Gate Incident
The blast occurred on Thursday night near the Jayamarthanda Gate, the main entrance to the Mysuru Palace. The explosion involved a container used for generating hydrogen gas to inflate balloons. The incident resulted in the deaths of three individuals: Saleem (40) from Uttar Pradesh, Lakshmi, and Manjula. Four others, including a man from Ranebennur, a woman from Kolkata, and two minors, were injured. All injured have since been discharged from the hospital.
Investigation Uncovers Substandard, Custom-Made Cylinder
Mysuru city police, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) KS Sundarraj, have made significant findings. The container, fitted to victim Saleem's bicycle, was approximately 2-feet in height and 1 foot in diameter. Crucially, it was a customized unit manufactured outside Karnataka and did not meet any safety standards for domestic, commercial, or medical-grade cylinders, which undergo regular checks.
Police suspect the container was specifically made for producing and storing highly flammable hydrogen gas for balloons. The technique involves reacting metal with acid like sulfuric or hydrochloric acid in a sealed container. As these setups are locally arranged, no safety standards are maintained. Preliminary investigation indicates the blast likely occurred due to a pressure build-up, possibly caused by the use of poor-quality raw materials.
Victim Profile and Wider Safety Implications
Saleem was a regular visitor to Mysuru during holiday seasons, like many sellers from across India. For his latest month-long trip, he booked a hotel through a contact and was accompanied by three associates from Uttar Pradesh. Police are verifying how he learned the hydrogen gas production technique and if he had any local connections. According to his accomplices, Saleem was producing the gas using locally available materials, and they were assisting him.
This incident in the heart of the city has served as a major wake-up call for authorities. The blast has prompted a crackdown, with officials now keeping a close tab on all such informal and potentially dangerous activities to ensure public safety. The case highlights the grave risks posed by unregulated, makeshift equipment handling hazardous materials in crowded public spaces.
