Indian balloon release turns into fireball, injuring 15 people

A celebratory release of gas-filled party balloons turned into a fireball in India that left at least 15 people injured.

The dramatic explosion happened at a student event in Chandigarh, northern India, on Sunday, reports Oneindia News.

Police believe the cause of the blast was due to nitrogen balloons which became stuck in a bulb and their heat quickly triggered the explosion.

Video taken at the student graduation event, organised by the Allen Career Institute, shows the burst of flames erupting into a bright orange fireball.

Panic immediately took hold, with students and staff rushing to flee the blast area.

Some teachers and students were briefly engulfed in flames as they fled.

The injured were taken to hospital and suffered minor burns.