A tragic incident occurred near the Mysuru Palace in Karnataka on Thursday evening, December 25, 2025, when a helium gas cylinder exploded, resulting in one fatality and injuries to four others. The blast took place at approximately 8:30 PM near the Jayamarthanda Gate of the palace, causing panic among the large crowd gathered for the ongoing winter festival and Christmas holiday.
According to authorities, the explosion occurred while a balloon vendor was using the cylinder to fill balloons. The vendor, identified as Salim (40), son of Khamaruddin and a resident of Tofiya village, Kannauj district in Uttar Pradesh, was killed instantly in the blast.
The impact of the explosion injured four passersby. The injured have been identified as Lakshmi, Manjula from Nanjangud, Shaahin Shabbir from Kolkata and Kotreshi from Renebennur. Lakshmi, who is based out of Bengaluru, is in critical condition. All of the injured were immediately transported to K R Hospital for medical treatment.
Seema Latkar, the Police Commissioner of Mysuru, stated that a large number of people were visiting the palace and exhibition grounds due to the Christmas vacation when the incident occurred. The Dasara Exhibition grounds, located near the palace, also contributed to the heavy footfall, exacerbating the chaos and fear following the explosion.
Following the incident, police teams, along with the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) team, Anti Sabotage Check team, and a dog squad, rushed to the site to manage the situation, conduct investigations, and provide assistance to the injured. Nazarbad Police have registered a case, and an investigation is currently underway. The police are working to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion. Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses.
The Mysuru Palace is a prominent tourist destination, and the winter festival attracts a large number of visitors. The incident has cast a shadow over the holiday festivities, and authorities are taking measures to ensure the safety and security of the public.
