Authorities of Ajmer jail have charged the balloon operator with "unauthorised entry".
A hot-air balloon ride landed two young women tourists in a Rajasthan jail on Tuesday. Literally. There was, however, no arrest.
The two women from West Indies, journalists on a holiday, had taken off in the balloon from Pushkar near Ajmer on Tuesday evening. With them was a balloon operator, who lost control because of strong winds and landed the balloon in the premises of the Ajmer jail, said the police.
The women, sisters in their early 20s, told NDTV today that they had boarded the balloon with their cameras for a bird's eye view of Pushkar's famous animal fair. Soon, however, they found themselves sailing over Ajmer city.
When the balloon landed, on the football field of the jail, the women said they had no idea where they were. Prisoners were in the barracks at the time, but the landing caused a security alarm, sending jail officials into a tizzy.
The women and the balloon operator were detained at the jail for over two hours, while the prison authorities ascertained that they were indeed tourists on a hot air balloon that had drifted off course. The policemen, the women said, were polite and courteous.
In Pushkar, the district administration has cancelled all balloon rides over the fair. A first information report or FIR has been filed against the company that operates the balloon rides, for "unlawful entry" into the jail and their licence has been cancelled.
The two tourists, meanwhile, have opted for a more grounded ride today - they are off on an elephant ride and say they are hoping it will be uneventful.