Woman Loses Forearms After Chinese Hair Dryer Exploded in Karnataka's Bagalkot

New Delhi: A woman in Bagalkot, Karnataka, suffered critical injuries when a hair dryer exploded, severing both of her forearms and shattering her fingers. The victim, Basamma Yaranal, is the widow of a deceased soldier. A video accessed by Republic World showed the impact of the blast, with blood splattered across the victim's home.

Hair Dryer Explodes in Karnataka's Bagalkot: What Exactly Happened

Basamma, the widow of late soldier Papanna, who had passed away in 2017 due to a short circuit in Jammu and Kashmir, was critically injured in the explosion. The parcel containing the hair dryer was addressed to Shashikala, the wife of another deceased soldier. Shashikala, who was out of town, had asked Basamma to collect and open the package on her behalf after being contacted by the courier service.

The package, shipped via DTDC courier, contained a hair dryer. When a neighbour asked Basamma to demonstrate it by turning it on, the device exploded as soon as it was plugged in, causing severe injuries to her. Basamma was rushed to a private hospital in Ilkal for treatment.

Case Registered

Meanwhile, a case has been registered at the Ilkal Police Station, and officials are investigating the incident. Shashikala, on the other hand, claimed that she had not ordered the hair dryer, raising suspicions about the identity of the sender. The police are working to determine who placed the order, who made the payment, and how the hair dryer ended up at Basamma's residence.

The hair dryer, manufactured in Visakhapatnam, was shipped from Bagalkot. The Ilkal police are continuing their investigation to trace the source of the device and the details surrounding the transaction.

Investigations Underway

Speaking to reporters, Amarnath Reddy, Bagalkote SP confirmed the incident and said,"We are investigating the case. Initially, Shashikala claimed that she had purchased the product. However, after the case was registered, she stated that she did not order it. It is possible she got scared when an FIR was filed. We are conducting a thorough investigation. We also sought an opinion from the electrical inspector, who mentioned that the user manual was not followed while using the device, and the voltage was lower than required. We are examining if there was any foul play and are also investigating with the courier company. The hair dryer in question is a Chinese-made Kemey hair dryer."