Four victims of balloon explosion expected to be discharged from Putrajaya Hospital

LIPIS (Bernama): Four of six victims in the balloon explosion incident at Dataran Putrajaya on Saturday (Oct 12) are expected to be discharged from the Putrajaya Hospital.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic) said the four comprised three adults and a girl.

"Two other victims are still being warded. Their condition is stable, ” he told reporters after launching the "Karnival Koi Nak Sihat: Lain Weh!" at Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah here Sunday (Oct 13).

Also present were Pahang Health director Datuk Dr Sha'ari Ngadiman and local actor Fahrin Ahmad.

On Saturday (Oct 12), 16 individuals were injured after some balloons exploded at an Education Ministry national-level fitness event at Dataran Putrajaya.

Nine children were among those injured in the incident believed to have happened when visitors rushed to cut the string tied to three bunches of gas-inflated balloons at the end of the event and someone carelessly used a cigarette lighter to do so.

Dr Dzulkefly said a Mental Health and Psychological Support team would provide counselling to victims who are still in hospital.

In another development, the minister said the Bera Hospital project, which had been abandoned since January 2015, is expected to begin operations in the first quarter of next year.

"The development status of the hospital as of Oct 11 is 90.2% and I am optimistic that the contractor involved can complete it by the end of this year, ” he said.

For the record, construction of the hospital commenced in July 2012 and scheduled to be completed in three years.

However, the previous contractor failed to complete the project despite being given an extension of 690 days.

The initial construction cost of the 40-bed hospital was RM88mil but the government had to fork out an additional RM33mil to revive the failed project that also resulted in the contractor being blacklisted.

Meanwhile, Dr Dzulkefly said the two-day health carnival, which began Saturday, drew more than 9,000 people. - Bernama