1 day ago
Four Arrested After Tourist Burned at Sittong Homestay
A woman named Nikita was badly hurt by fire at a homestay in Sittong.
She and her husband had gone there on September 13.
They were having a barbecue at night.
Police said Nasiruddin poured too much lighter fluid onto the fire.
The fire became stronger, and the container was thrown toward Nikita.
Her husband Souvik put out the flames and was also burned.
Nikita was taken to a private nursing home in Siliguri.
Four people connected with the homestay were arrested and sent to police custody for four days.
A tourism group urged homestays to use better safety rules around fires.
Darjeeling district police arrested four people over Nikita Das’s serious burn injuries at a Sittong homestay.
Police arrested homestay owners Pawan Kumar Agarwal and Nehal Airan, manager Dipen Lama, and worker Nasiruddin.
Police said a large amount of lighter fluid intensified a barbecue fire before the container was thrown toward Nikita.
Nikita and her husband Souvik Das were taken to Siliguri after the September 13 incident; Souvik also suffered burns.
A Kurseong court remanded all four accused to four days in police custody, while HHTDN urged stronger fire-safety measures.
- Who
- Nikita Das and her husband Souvik Das were involved; police arrested Pawan Kumar Agarwal, Nehal Airan, Dipen Lama, and Nasiruddin.
- What
- A barbecue fire severely injured Nikita, leading to four arrests.
- Where
- The incident occurred at a homestay in Sittong, Darjeeling district; Nikita was treated in Siliguri.
- When
- The incident occurred at night on September 13; the arrests and court remand followed afterward.
- Why
- Police allege that lighter fluid intensified the barbecue fire and that the homestay’s owners and manager failed to prevent unsafe handling.
Key facts
- Incident location
- A homestay in Sittong, Darjeeling district
- Incident date
- September 13
- Injured tourist
- Nikita Das, who was critically injured
- Other injured person
- Souvik Das suffered burns while helping his wife
- Arrests
- Pawan Kumar Agarwal, Nehal Airan, Dipen Lama, and Nasiruddin
- Court order
- Four days of police custody
- Safety response
- The Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network urged strict fire-safety protocols
Quotes
Tanmoy Goswami
General secretary of the Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network
“We have appealed to tourism establishments, homestays and rural tourism operators across the region to exercise the highest degree of caution while providing barbecue, bonfire and other fire-related recreational facilities to guests. Appropriate safety protocols, supervision, equipment handling and emergency preparedness must remain integral to responsible hospitality.”
telegraphindia.com
“The Eastern Himalayas have emerged as an important destination for community-based and rural tourism, providing livelihoods to thousands of local families while offering visitors authentic experiences amidst nature and local culture. The sector must continue to grow with safety, responsibility and professionalism at its core.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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