Probe committee formed to investigate balloon explosion incident

Kathmandu: An eight-member committee has been formed to investigate the balloon explosion that occurred during the inaugural ceremony of the ‘Pokhara Visit Year 2025’ in Pokhara on Saturday.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak established the committee, which will be led by Kaski’s Chief District Officer Bharatmani Pandey. The committee has been tasked with submitting its report within 15 days.

The committee members include Shivraj Chaulagain, Chief Administrative Officer of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Shyambabu Oliya, Superintendent of Police in Kaski, Surya Prasad Timilsina, Chief of the Armed Police Force No. 24 Battalion, Suresh Kumar Tiwari, Deputy Director of the National Investigation Department at the Kaski District Office, and Ganga Bahadur Chhetri, Assistant Chief District Officer of Kaski, who will serve as the Member Secretary. An explosives expert will also be included in the investigation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, along with Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya, were injured during the incident and are currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit of the Burn Hospital in Kirtipur.

Following the formation of the probe committee, Home Minister Lekhak visited the hospital to inquire about the condition of the injured officials.