Often you would buy balloons for your children. Some of these balloons are gas balloons, filled with helium gas. This sometimes becomes dangerous also. Actually, recently a person entered the lift of a building in Mumbai carrying balloons filled with helium gas. Within a few moments the balloons burst inside the lift. This accident was captured in CCTV footage. A woman is seen entering the lift with a small trolley bag. Behind him, a person tries to force his way inside with a sack full of balloons. Suddenly the balloons burst and the elevator catches fire. People start running away from the lift in fear.

However, the flames cover the camera’s view for a few seconds. In such a situation, the people present in the lift become completely hidden and are not visible. When the smoke clears, three people present in the lift are seen coming out. All of them look badly scared. The person selling balloons loses his balance and stumbles and falls. This incident is worrying, because the explosion happened quickly and violently, even without any visible fire.

The reason for this explosion was the gas filled in the balloons. Many people believe that such balloons are filled with helium, which is a non-flammable gas commonly used for decoration. In fact, many vendors use hydrogen instead of helium. Hydrogen is much cheaper than helium and customers often cannot tell the difference. Taking advantage of this, sellers use hydrogen instead of helium, putting everyone in danger.

Hydrogen is one of the most flammable substances. It does not require a big flame to ignite. Even a small spark, static electricity or electrical discharge is enough to start combustion. When hydrogen leaks from the balloon, it mixes rapidly with air and creates an extremely explosive atmosphere.

Lift is one of the most dangerous places for such incidents to happen. Lifts are closed metal boxes, in which electrical wires, buttons, lights and sensors work continuously. These include motion, friction, and even clothing rubbing against surfaces that generate static electricity. This is why lifts for hydrogen filled balloons are dangerous.

When a hydrogen balloon bursts, the gas immediately comes out. Being the lightest element, hydrogen rises rapidly and accumulates near the ceiling of the elevator. This is where light fixtures, control panels and wiring are located. Even a small spark from any of these devices can ignite the gas in a few milliseconds.

Unlike controlled combustion, hydrogen combustion is rapid and aggressive. It creates a ball of fire instantly instead of a slow flame. In the confined space of an elevator, there is no room for expanding gas and heat to escape. The pressure increases immediately and the effect of the explosion becomes intense. This wave can cause serious injuries even without visible burn marks.

Although this can cause permanent damage to the eardrums of anyone inside, other side effects include jamming the elevator doors and trapping you in a smoke-filled cabin. outcome? Many health problems. Although hydrogen is not poisonous, it is an asphyxiant, which means it can render you unconscious.

Why do people buy it? Actually, no person buys it intentionally. People become victims of a kind of fraud when they go to sellers to buy helium balloons. Since hydrogen is cheaper than helium, sellers cheat them and sell helium substitutes so that they can earn more profits.

Gas filled balloons should not be taken inside the elevator until their contents are confirmed. It is generally safe to carry a small number of helium balloons in an elevator, but if you are planning to carry a large number of balloons, it is better to avoid this. The reason for this is that there is a risk of fire or sudden bursting from gas filled balloons in a crowded or closed place.