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The incident took place near the Jaya Marthanda Gate of the historic Amba Vilas Palace, an area which sees huge crowds due to the Christmas holidays.
According to news agency PTI, city police commissioner Seema Latkar confirmed the deaths and injuries, noting that the blast occurred near the entrance of the exhibition grounds.
Police initially reported two deaths, but later clarified that one person had died in the incident.
Identification of the victim; The injured were taken to hospital
According to News18, the deceased has been identified as Salim, a 40-year-old balloon seller from Tofia village in Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh. He was a regular vendor in front of the palace and died on the spot due to the impact of the explosion.
Preliminary information suggests that Salim was inflating balloons using a gas cylinder mounted on a bicycle when the explosion occurred.
While media reports described the cylinder as containing helium, officials while briefing reporters described it as a nitrogen gas cylinder. The exact nature of the gas and the cause of the explosion are under investigation.
Four people, including a woman, were injured in the blast and were immediately taken to KR Hospital for treatment.
According to News18, the injured have been identified as Lakshmi from Bengaluru, Manjula from Nanjangud, Shahina Shebar from Kolkata and Kotresh Gutte from Ranebennur. Police said that the condition of the injured is critical.
Crowded area, police started investigation
According to PTI report, the blast caused chaos in the busy area and people started screaming and running for safety. Due to the Christmas holidays, a large number of visitors had gathered at the exhibition grounds, increasing the impact of the incident and the panic that followed.
After the blast, police cordoned off the palace and the exhibition complex as a precautionary measure. A detailed investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the cylinder explosion and whether safety norms were violated.
Authorities have appealed to the public to remain calm and assured that further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.