A routine elevator ride became a nightmare at a residential building in Goregaon (West) on Monday night, when a bundle of gas-filled balloons exploded, engulfing the cabin and everyone in it in a sudden fireball.
The Incident
The chilling event took place around 10:30 PM on February 2, 2026, at Anmol Tower. CCTV footage, which has since spread on social media, shows a 21-year-old university student, Himani Tapriya, arriving in the lift carrying her luggage. Afterward she was followed by a delivery person, 32-year-old Raju Kumar Mahato, who was carrying a large bunch of balloons intended for a birthday celebration on the 10th floor. A third person arrived, and when doors started closing, the balloons, believed to have contained highly flammable hydrogen gas, exploded. The video shows a blinding flash of fire filling the small, enclosed area within seconds.
📍 Mumbai, Maharashtra: Gas-filled balloons caught fire and exploded inside a residential lift in Goregaon. CCTV shows sudden flames, panic, and a narrow escape. Two injured. Safety ignored, danger invited. pic.twitter.com/I6NHrzEvpF
— Deadly Kalesh (@Deadlykalesh) February 4, 2026
Injuries and Rescue
As bad as the flash fire was, the occupants made a narrow escape, as the lift doors were not fully shut.
- Himani Tapriya: Took burn injuries to her right arm, neck, and stomach. She had just arrived from Surat to visit her aunt.
- Raju Kumar Mahato: Also the delivery person received burn injuries during the explosion.
Both victims were quickly taken to a nearby hospital. Thankfully, medical officials confirmed they are no longer in danger, but psychological trauma persists.
Police Action and Investigation
The Goregaon Police filed a case of negligence as per Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
“A case has been brought against the balloon shop owner, T.K. Jaiswal, for failing to provide safety instructions or devices to his employee,” a police officer said.
Flammable gas instead of non-flammable helium
It’s an investigation that authorities are conducting. Hydrogen is typically used by local vendors as a cost-effective substitute for helium, though it’s still a significant fire hazard especially in poorly ventilated areas like elevators where a single static spark of electricity can set off an explosion, experts warn.
