A routine elevator ride in Goregaon West, Mumbai, turned frightening on the night of 2 February 2026, when a cluster of gas-filled balloons exploded inside a residential lift, injuring a 21-year-old student and a delivery worker.
CCTV footage shows three occupants narrowly escaping after the balloons burst into flames in the confined space. Police have registered a negligence case against the balloon shop owner under the Bharatiya Nyaya
Sanhita, and an investigation is underway into the nature of the gas used and the safety practices followed. Residents and safety officials are now warning about the risks posed by transporting flammable gases in enclosed spaces, prompting calls for stricter safety awareness.
Caught on Camera: Ordinary Trip Turns Dangerous
At around 10:30 pm on Monday, Himani Gagan Tapariya, a 21-year-old student from Surat, entered the lift at Anmol Tower, a residential building in Goregaon West, heading to her aunt’s home.
Moments later, 32-year-old delivery worker Raju Kumar Mahto, employed by a local balloon vendor, stepped in carrying roughly 10–12 gas-filled balloons in a plastic bag, followed by a third man. Seconds after the doors closed, the balloons suddenly exploded in a ball of fire, filling the lift’s interior with flames, as captured on CCTV.
The footage shows the three occupants scrambling out of the lift in panic, with Mahto losing his balance as he fled. Both he and Tapariya suffered burn injuries Tapariya on her right arm, neck and stomach, Mahto on his face and were rushed to hospital for treatment; Tapariya has since been reported as stable.
Police told reporters that an FIR has been filed under Section 125(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the shop owner who sent Mahto for delivery, identified as Tripurari Kumar Jaisawal. Authorities said he failed to provide safety instructions or protective equipment to his employee.
A police officer described preliminary findings pointing to negligence and careless conduct as potential causes of the explosion, adding that investigations continue to determine exactly what gas was used to fill the balloons. While helium commonly used for party balloons is inert and non-flammable, the more dangerous hydrogen gas is known to ignite easily and is suspected in this case, though forensic confirmation is pending.
Hidden Dangers of Flammable Balloons
Incidents involving gas-filled balloons catching fire have become a growing safety concern in India and abroad, particularly when flammable gases are used in place of safer alternatives. Hydrogen is cheaper than helium but highly combustible, meaning even a small spark from static electricity, an electrical contact or a mechanical trigger can ignite it in a confined environment. In a lift, which is essentially a sealed metal box with electrical components and limited ventilation, such ignition can escalate rapidly, as was seen in the Goregaon explosion.
Fire safety experts and housing society committees have urged residents and vendors to take precautions. They warn that transporting flammable materials such as gas-filled balloons in enclosed spaces like lifts or stairwells is inherently risky and against safety best practices.
Under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, activities that endanger residents’ safety in high-rise buildings are prohibited, and housing associations are legally required to enforce norms that limit the movement of hazardous goods within premises.
The Mumbai lift explosion follows similar dangerous episodes elsewhere. Last year, hydrogen balloons exploded during a Haldi ceremony at a wedding, causing burns to both the bride and groom after one balloon was ignited by colour guns used in the celebration. Videos of that incident circulated widely on social media, raising public awareness about the potential hazards of flammable gases in festive settings.
In another incident in Vietnam, a woman suffered first- and second-degree burns when balloons she was holding near lit candles on a birthday cake caught fire, engulfing her face in flames. While the gases involved and circumstances vary, experts consistently point to the need for better public education and stricter regulation around the use of combustible gases in decorative contexts.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
What should be a simple act of delivering decorations for a celebration instead became a serious safety incident, underscoring the thin line between festivity and hazard when basic safety precautions are ignored.
Balloons are symbolic of joy and occasions of togetherness, but misusing flammable gases in everyday spaces like residential lifts poses an unnecessary and avoidable risk not just to those directly involved but to bystanders and entire communities living in close quarters. The responsibility lies not just with vendors and delivery agents but also with customers, housing societies and regulatory bodies to ensure that such practices are not normalised.
