DPM Paudel, Pokhara Mayor Acharya admitted to Kirtipur Burn Hospital

By Phadindra Adhikari,Lekhnath, Feb. 16: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Bishnu Prasad Paudel, and Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Dhanraj Acharya, who sustained burn injuries in Pokhara during the inauguration of the Pokhara Visit Year 2025, have been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Kirtipur Hospital for treatment at 3:30 PM on Saturday.

According to their initial assessment, they have sustained 5-6 per cent burns, primarily on the face, Kirtipur Hospital informed in a statement. 

Due to facial burns, there is a possibility of respiratory tract and lung involvement, necessitating treatment under high vigilance, read the statement. 

A team of doctors including Burns Specialists Dr. Shankar Man Rai, Dr. Bishal Karki and Dr. Manish Yadav, and Dr. VD Jha and Dr. Pravin Giri from ICU, and Dr. Payus Aryal from Emergency are involved in the treatment of the DPM and Mayor.

They both sustained injuries when balloons exploded during the inauguration ceremony of Pokhara Visit Year 2025 on Saturday afternoon. The explosion sparked flames and injured both. 

The incident occurred at around 1:15 PM. DPM Paudel and Mayor Acharya were airlifted to Kirtipur following initial treatment in Pokhara. 

DPM Paudel was initially treated at Gandaki Medical College, while Mayor Acharya received medical attention at Fishtail Hospital. According to Kaski’s Assistant Chief District Officer Shiva Lamsal, the decision to transfer them to Kathmandu was made upon doctors' advice, and they were flown by Simrik Air’s helicopter.  

Paudel sustained injuries in his hand and face, while Acharya suffered burns in his cheek and parts of his head. Pokhara Metropolitan City spokesperson Motilal Timilsina said that both leaders are out of danger and their treatment is ongoing.  

Pokhara Visit Year

Despite the incident, the inauguration ceremony continued. Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey and Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey unveiled the official logo for Pokhara Visit Year 2025. 

Minister Pandey said that the plans for the development of ‘tourism capital’ would be implemented effectively with coordination among all three tiers of government. “Air and road networks remain a challenge for the tourism capital. By overcoming these challenges, we can ensure the success of both the tourism capital project and Pokhara Visit Year,” he said.  

Pokhara’s Deputy Mayor Manju Devi Gurung announced various activities and plans for the Visit Year. These include establishing sister-city relationships with five domestic 

and five international cities, inviting representatives from these sister cities to visit Pokhara, and collaborating with the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) to promote the city globally. The goal for 2025 is to attract two million domestic and international tourists to Pokhara, said Gurung.  

Investigation launched  

Meanwhile, Nepal Police has launched an investigation into the incident. The unexpected balloon explosion, which injured Chief Guest DPM Paudel and event chair Mayor Acharya, disrupted the programme.  

Disaster experts and chemists have pointed to a lack of precautionary measures as the cause of the incident. Disaster management expert Sumeru Tripathi criticised the organisers for failing to ensure proper safety protocols. 

“There were open flames below and hydrogen-filled balloons above. There was no proper planning regarding the placement of flames, balloons, or guests. The lack of precaution and preparedness led to this incident,” he stated.  

Kaski Police Chief, Superintendent of Police, Shyam Babu Oliya, said an investigation is underway. “It appears that the lamp was lit digitally. Preliminary findings suggest that the balloon exploded immediately after the lamp was ignited, triggering the incident,” he said.