To make the program dignified and safe, it is necessary to evaluate the business skills, capabilities and strategies of the security system. The deployment of security personnel in our country is done only for the purpose of showing kindness rather than for security purposes.
Lahad is turning our public programs into a farce by making a jhikizhkau stage for ordinary to big events, calling many people on the stage, garlanding food, opening by using irrelevant technology.
Although all efforts are made to gather a crowd of spectators to make the event grand, it seems that no attention is paid to the security analysis of the event. The accident that happened on Saturday in a program attended by the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, the Chief Minister of the state, the mayor of the metropolis, various government officials, employees and businessmen and hundreds of ordinary citizens has made it clear how careless we are in preparation.
Events have also confirmed that the opening program, which was set to bring hundreds of balloons filled with highly flammable hydrogen gas with a burst of fire, was not creative, but a multi-stick pretence. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel and Pokhara Metropolitan City Chief Dhanraj Acharya were injured in the accident when the balloon fell during the 'Pokhara Visit Year 2025' announcement program.
The digital switch was turned on at the official announcement of the year of Pokhara visit and the flickering lights were lit. After that, balloons were handed over to Paudel and Acharya to fly the banner written on the year of the visit. However, before they could take off, the balloon's canopy was met by a spark of fire, and Poudel and Acharya were injured when the balloon's canopy, filled with flammable hydrogen, exploded together.
After initial treatment at Gandaki Hospital, they were brought by helicopter to Kirtipur Hospital in Kathmandu with burns of 5 to 6 percent of their bodies. To investigate the incident, Home Minister Ramesh Lakhtar has formed an eight-member committee under the coordination of Chief District Officer of Kaski, Bharatmani Pandey. Detailed information about the incident will be made public after the report given by the committee.
Paudel and Acharya are about to return to their duties after treatment. However, what we have learned from this incident and the style of our public programs now is an important question. Because we have paid a lot of price in the past due to the unnecessary fuss caused by public events. For example, a program organized 6 years ago in Pokhara can be taken.
On June 1, 2075, when the then mayor of Pokhara, Man Bahadur GC, drove a dozer at the inauguration of the footpath in Firke Khola, some people including journalists who came to take pictures were injured. Not only such accidents are caused by negligence, party leaders have also been involved in planned attacks. Leaders' penchant for head-covering garlands has led to many untoward incidents in the past.
The then President of UML Jhalnath Khanal was abused in Sunsari, Maoist President Pushpa Kamal Dahal in Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, then President of Congress Sushil Koirala in Kapan and UML President KP Sharma Oli in Dhankuta. People who attacked the leader physically entered the venue as their supporters. Such unpleasant incidents not only demoralize the leaders but also destroy the social psychology. However, if the fascination of receiving flowers or garlands prevails and security standards are weakened, such incidents may recur. To make the
program dignified and safe, it is necessary to evaluate the business skills, capabilities and strategies of the security system. The deployment of security personnel in our country is done only for the purpose of showing kindness rather than for security purposes. Others can help to carry bags or water, officials can also do this work themselves. Therefore, it is not enough to give uniforms to security personnel to walk behind higher officials, they should also be trained to be alert to security risks.
It is not safe to stand behind the official. What are the styles and techniques used for opening? It is also important to have a clear monitoring of what arrangements have been made for the safety of guests and the general public.
Safety personnel also need adequate training to know that accidents can occur when opening a balloon by holding it together. At least the Pokhara incident has taught a lesson to all concerned, don't be lax in caution.
