Kathmandu, 16 Feb: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has formed an eight-member investigation committee to look into the balloon explosion that occurred during the inauguration ceremony of the Pokhara Visit Year 2025 in Pokhara.
The committee, chaired by Bharatmani Pandey, Chief District Officer of Kaski, was formed on Sunday morning through a ministerial-level decision.
The members of the committee include Shivraj Chaulagain, Chief Administrative Officer of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Shyambabu Oliya, Kaski Police Chief and Superintendent of Police, Suryaprasad Timilsina, Superintendent of Armed Police and Head of Armed Police Unit No. 24 Headquarters, Suresh Kumar Tiwari, Deputy Investigation Director of the National Investigation District Office, and Gangabahadur Kshetri, Assistant Chief District Officer of Kaski, serving as the Member Secretary
Additionally, an expert in explosive materials will also be included in the committee.
The committee has been tasked with investigating the details of the balloon explosion from Sunday onwards, determining how the incident occurred, and preparing a report within 15 days. The report will include recommendations on precautionary measures for future events, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The incident, which took place on Saturday, injured Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel as well as Pokhara Metropolitan Mayor Dhanraj Acharya.
On Saturday evening, Home Minister Lekhak visited Kirtipur Hospital to check on Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel and Mayor Dhanraj Acharya, who are currently under treatment.
