Mysore/Mysuru, Dec. 26 -- The Mysore Palace attracts thousands of visitors every day, and the streets surrounding the iconic monument are constantly abuzz with people, tourists, children, hawkers and small-time vendors selling various wares, including balloons filled using gas cylinders. The crowd swells significantly during weekends, festivals and the year-end holiday season.

However, despite the heavy footfall and a steady daily revenue running into lakhs of rupees, there is no dedicated ambulance or fire safety facility in place to handle emergencies.

This glaring gap was exposed on the night of Dec. 25, when a balloon gas-filling cylinder exploded in front of the Palace.

Given the volume of visitors, citizens stressed that a perman...