Death toll in Mysuru helium cylinder blast rises to 2, FIR registered against dead balloon seller

MYSURU: The death toll in the helium gas cylinder explosion near the Mysuru Palace’s Jayamarthanda Gate on Thursday night has risen to 2, with one of the injured, Manjula, who hailed from Nanjangud, succumbing to her injuries at KR Hospital on Friday.

A helium gas cylinder explosion occurred near the Jayamarthanda Gate of the Mysuru Palace around 8.30 pm, instantly killing the balloon vendor, Saleem (40), and injuring four others. The injured included Lakshmi from Bengaluru, Shaheena Shabbir, Kotresh Beerappa from Ranebennur and Manjula from Nanjangud.

An FIR has been filed against the deceased Saleem at Devaraja police station based on the statement of Kotresh Beerappa, a KSRTC FDA employee from Ranebennur, who was injured in the incident. Kotresh suffered minor leg injuries.

The FIR names Saleem as the first accused (A1). Kotresh had come to Mysuru with his family and was buying balloons near Jayamarthanda Gate when the cylinder exploded. He stated that Salim was filling balloons without taking proper safety precautions, leading to the accident.

#WATCH | Karnataka | A helium cylinder explosion occurred in front of the Jayamarthanda gate of the Mysore Palace at around 8.30 pm. The balloon seller died on the spot and his identity is yet to be ascertained. Four others were immediately admitted to the hospital for treatment:… pic.twitter.com/EYZzH3SddK

— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2025

On Friday, an NIA team visited the scene and gather information. The investigation is under way, with police exploring multiple angles. The forensic team also collected samples from the scene. The police are questioning Saleem’s associates and investigating whether the explosion was accidental or intentional.

Saleem, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, had been in Mysuru for a month, selling gas balloons. He was staying with relatives at Sharif Lodge in Laskar Mohalla. Salem had started selling balloons near the palace just a day earlier. He had taken photos inside the palace a few days ago.

According to local guides, the balloon vendor was not selling balloons in front of the palace, and he wasn’t there on Thursday either. The gas cylinder exploded suddenly after he arrived, they claimed.

Mysuru district minister Dr H C Mahadevappa visited the injured at K R Hospital on Friday and inquired about the injured. Regarding the NIA team’s visit, he said it is routine whenever such incidents occur.