Kathmandu: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel and Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhan Raj Acharya sustained burn injuries in an unexpected accident during the launch of the Visit Pokhara 2025 campaign on Saturday.
The incident occurred when hydrogen-filled balloons, set for a ceremonial release, suddenly caught fire and exploded.
The blast caused minor facial burns to both Minister Paudel and Mayor Acharya. They received initial treatment in Pokhara before being airlifted to Kathmandu for further care at Kirtipur Burns Hospital.
Eyewitnesses say that Mayor Acharya’s injuries appear to be more severe than Minister Paudel’s. Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Visit Pokhara 2025 campaign aims to promote tourism in the region, and despite the mishap, officials have assured that planned activities will continue as scheduled.
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