Helium balloons explode during PM Modi’s birthday fete in Chennai, BJP workers injured – Hindustan Times

A huge bunch of balloons burst into a ball of fire after sparks from firecrackers punctured them just before release during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s weeklong birthday celebrations here injuring a number of people, police said on Saturday.

The incident occurred when BJP members, all set to release the balloons, burst firecrackers while garlanding a farmers wing state level office-bearer, Muthuraman at Padi on Friday.

The BJP is celebrating Modi’s birthday (September 17) as “Seva Saptah” for a week.

Sparks, that emanated from the crackers punctured the balloons and in a trice they burst into a huge ball of fire, prompting party workers to take to their heels and the blaze dissipated in moments, police said.

The BJP members had planned to release a hundred hydrogen filled balloons into the air and the mild explosion caused minor injuries to a number of people who were admitted to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital for treatment,they said.

Since the event was held without permission, the Korattur police booked a case against the organisers and a brief video of the freak accident went viral in social media.

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While the party cadres were holding hundreds of balloons filled with hydrogen gas, sparks from firecrackers hit some balloons and in no time all balloons burst leading to a fire, police said.

Meanwhile,a case was booked against BJP state unit chief L Murugan and others for taking out a “chariot ride” in violation of prohibitory orders clamped in view of the coronavirus pandemic and for alleged “unlawful” assembly.

Also, a case was registered for putting up illegal banners,they added.