NIA joins probe as death toll in helium cylinder blast near Mysuru Palace climbs to three

Mysuru: With the National Investigation Agency (NIA) stepping in to assist the investigation, the death toll in the helium cylinder explosion near the Mysuru Palace has increased to three, police said on Saturday.

Lakshmi, a 29-year-old woman from Kamakshipalya in Bengaluru, succumbed to her injuries late on Friday while undergoing treatment at KR Hospital. She had sustained critical injuries in the blast, including severe damage to her abdomen and could not be revived despite intensive medical care, a senior police official said.

Lakshmi was the wife of Rajesh, an auto-rickshaw driver based in Bengaluru and a native of Hosahalli village in Mandya district. The couple had travelled to Mysuru on Thursday and were staying at a relative’s house in Belavadi when the incident occurred.

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The explosion had earlier claimed the life of Saleem, a helium balloon vendor, who died on the spot on December 25. Another injured woman, Manjula, also passed away on Friday during treatment at KR Hospital, taking the total number of fatalities to three.

According to police, Saleem was a native of Uttar Pradesh and had been residing in Lashkar Mohalla in Mysuru along with two other individuals. He earned his livelihood by selling helium balloons in the city.

Officials said the NIA has begun gathering information related to the blast as part of the ongoing probe. Meanwhile, local police continue to investigate the incident to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

(with inputs from agencies)