Major Accident Prevented as Hot Air Balloon Makes Emergency Landing Near Ibrahim Bagh Lake

A potentially serious incident was narrowly avoided during Hyderabad's ongoing hot air balloon festival when one balloon was forced to make an emergency landing on Saturday.

The balloon, which had taken off from Golconda Golf Club with three passengers on board, developed a technical problem mid-air, prompting swift action by the pilot. All occupants landed safely without injuries, officials said.

Emergency landing near Ibrahim Bagh Lake

According to reports, the hot air balloon suffered a technical glitch during flight, resulting in a gradual loss of air pressure. The pilot responded by carrying out a controlled landing in a muddy patch near Ibrahim Bagh Lake. Despite the uneven terrain and challenging conditions, the emergency landing was executed safely, and all three passengers escaped unharmed.

Festival organised as part of Sankranti celebrations

The Telangana government is hosting the hot air balloon festival as part of its Sankranti celebrations. The event, scheduled to continue until January 18, features 15 international-standard balloons that arrived from several European countries. The festival has drawn large crowds, with tickets priced at Rs 2,000 and all slots reported to be fully booked.

Long rides and tethered experiences for visitors

As part of the festival, long-distance rides of up to 10 kilometres are being operated from Golconda Golf Club, offering aerial views of Hyderabad. In addition, tethered balloon rides are being conducted at the Parade Ground in Secunderabad on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Registration for these experiences has also been fully booked, reflecting strong public interest.

'Such festivals must be conducted frequently'

The three-day festival began early on Friday, January 16, near Golconda Fort, with at least 18 balloons taking to the skies, creating scenes reminiscent of Turkey's famous Cappadocia region. One of the rides reportedly began from the Hyderabad Golf Club and concluded at Appajiguda.

After completing the ride, Rao said, "Such festivals must be conducted frequently to promote Telangana and its historic culture." He added that the sight of balloons rising into the sky symbolised Telangana tourism reaching new global heights and noted that the festival would offer lasting memories for visitors. Rao also urged people to participate in the event along with their families.