Cubbon Park presents a less colourful picture

Cubbon Park presents a less colourful picture

Aditya Preetham

Balloon vendors stay away from the popular picnic spot

Police prevent vendors from conducting business

Many vendors do not know what the cylinders are filled with

Bangalore: Cubbon Park looked a lot less colourful on Monday as the ubiquitous balloons were missing. Vendors of these colourful bobbing blobs, the delight of every child, either stayed away from this popular picnic spot or were not allowed by the police to conduct business.

After the Sunday evening tragedy, in which two children were killed and four others injured after a cylinder burst, the police received instructions not to allow balloon vendors to conduct their business in and around Cubbon Park, which is frequented by many families. However, the police claim that quite a few balloon vendors have stopped selling inflated balloons in the park’s vicinity on their own, fearing a loss in business.

A constable, on duty at the park, said: “After the incident, all balloon vendors here were sent out and none of them were allowed to sell balloons inside the park.” Another constable there said that local cylinders that are available in small shops in Shivajinagar and K.R. Market are normally used by the vendors. According to police sources, of the nearly 100 such vendors, at least 20 operate in and around Cubbon Park.

The incident has reminded parents across the city about the various hazards present outside. This was probably why this reporter, who paid a visit to Cubbon Park on Monday evening, did not find any children playing with the inflated balloons. There was just one balloon vendor outside the park, who was not conducting any business.

The vendor, who undertakes party orders, told The Hindu, on condition of anonymity, that the Sunday’s accident had put several local balloon vendors on high alert. He said the blame for the accident should rest solely on vendors who do not know what the cylinders are filled with and where they (cylinders) are procured from.

He claimed that the cylinders have to be kept cool at all times. “Once the temperature increases, the chances of the cylinder bursting are high. Moreover, many vendors are careless and buy the filled cylinders from unknown sources and agents. One has to ensure that they are bought from standard vendors. Otherwise, such incidents are bound to recur,” he said. The chances of a cylinder, which has been manufactured by a reputed company, bursting are minimal, as the cylinder will cool down automatically, he added. Vendors should take care to follow safety procedures, including use of standard cylinders, he said.