Key Points:
- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav narrowly escaped a major mishap when his hot air balloon caught fire moments before takeoff in Mandsaur.
- The incident occurred at the Gandhi Sagar Forest Retreat during the inauguration of the fourth edition of the Gandhi Sagar Festival.
- Strong winds exceeding 20 km/h prevented the balloon from ascending, causing it to tilt and the lower burner section to catch fire.
- Security personnel acted swiftly to secure the basket and safely evacuate the CM; no injuries were reported.
- An official investigation has been ordered, and the local administration has clarified that safety protocols were followed despite the incident.
Bhopal: A routine tourism promotion event took a dangerous turn on Saturday morning when a hot air balloon carrying Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav caught fire at the Gandhi Sagar Forest Retreat in Mandsaur. The Chief Minister, who was at the venue to inaugurate the fourth edition of the Gandhi Sagar Festival, was safely rescued by his security detail without any injuries.
The incident occurred around 7 a.m. as CM Yadav, accompanied by Mandsaur MP Sudhir Gupta, boarded the balloon for a scheduled joyride. However, due to unexpectedly strong winds blowing at over 20 km/h, the balloon was unable to gain altitude. Instead of rising, the powerful gusts caused the balloon’s envelope to tilt, bringing it into direct contact with the flames from the burner, which then ignited the lower fabric of the balloon.
Videos of the incident that quickly surfaced on social media show flames erupting from the base of the balloon while the Chief Minister was inside the basket.
Security’s Quick Action Averts Tragedy
The situation was brought under control thanks to the swift and decisive action of the security personnel on the ground. As soon as the fire broke out, security guards firmly held onto the trolley to prevent it from being dragged or tipping over, while other staff members immediately used fire extinguishers to douse the flames. Their prompt response ensured that the fire was contained before it could spread and cause a more serious accident.
Chief Minister Yadav was quickly and safely evacuated from the basket. He later praised the alertness of the staff and security, stating, “Alertness and vigilance are the biggest weapons in such situations”.
Official Response and Investigation
Following the incident, the Mandsaur district administration ordered a technical investigation into the matter to determine the exact cause and to review safety standards for adventure activities at tourist spots.
Mandsaur Collector Aditi Garg issued a clarification to counter “misleading information,” stating that there was no breach of safety protocols. She explained that heating the air is a standard part of the balloon’s flight preparation and that all safety measures were followed during the process. She urged the public not to pay attention to “false and misleading news”.
After the incident, CM Yadav continued with his schedule, praising the natural beauty of the Gandhi Sagar region. “Gandhi Sagar is like an ocean, it has rich wildlife and natural heritage… This is a paradise for tourists. Why go abroad when we have everything here?” he remarked. Just a day prior, he had enjoyed a cruise on the Chambal River backwaters as part of the festival’s activities. He later departed for Indore via helicopter.
