Nitrogen balloon explosion inside a Goregaon West building lift left a 21-year-old MBA aspirant with 15-20 per cent burn injuries, forcing her to pause her studies. Police have registered a negligence case and are probing the role of an event management firm
CCTV grab shows a man carrying balloons entering the lift at Anmol Tower; (right) The victim rushes out of the lift after the balloon explosion in Goregaon West. Pics/By Special Arrangement
A Nitrogen balloon explosion inside a lift at a Goregaon West building late on the night of February 2 left a 21-year-old MBA aspirant with serious burn injuries, bringing her academic plans to an abrupt halt.
Kumari Himani Gagan Tapariya, who had arrived in Mumbai a few days earlier for an MBA interview scheduled on February 3, was staying at her maternal aunt’s residence. She was returning home when the incident occurred around 10.30 pm at Anmol Tower, Goregaon West. According to police, a man carrying 10 to 12 air-filled balloons entered the lift, and moments later, the balloons exploded inside the confined space, triggering panic.
Tapariya sustained severe burn injuries to her right hand, neck, and abdomen and was rushed to Infinity Multi-speciality Hospital. Doctors said she suffered deep burns covering nearly 15 to 20 per cent of her body. “She has deep burn injuries on her right hand, neck, and abdomen. While no other body parts are directly affected, the depth of the burns increases the risk of infection,” a doctor said, adding that she is under close observation and family access has been restricted.
The victim's mother told mid-day, “She had come only for a few days for her interview. We were completely shocked when we heard about the accident and for a few minutes felt like we had lost everything.” The family rushed to Mumbai after being informed. Her brother, Abhishek, said the timing of the incident made it especially distressing. “The interview was scheduled for February 3, but the accident happened the previous night. Thankfully, the authorities took her condition into account and postponed the interview dates,” he said.
Tapariya has a long association with Mumbai, having completed her education up to graduation in the city and lived here until about eight months ago. Her family had recently moved from Bhiwandi to Surat, though she continued to travel to Mumbai for academic and personal reasons. Undecided about her MBA specialisation, she has now been forced to pause all plans. Doctors have advised complete rest for at least six months to ensure proper healing and recovery of mobility in her injured right hand.
Following the incident, Goregaon police registered a case under Section 125(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on Tapariya’s statement. During the investigation, the balloon handler was identified as Raju Kumar Mahto, 32, who reportedly works for an event management company that supplies balloons and decorations for parties. Police said Mahto was not provided with any safety equipment while handling the balloons.
Police further revealed that the balloons were allegedly ordered by another resident of the building. Prima facie, investigators believe the incident occurred due to negligence and careless conduct on the part of the employer. Further investigation is underway.
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