Darjeeling, Sept. 20 -- Four persons arrested in connection with the severe burn injuries suffered by a tourist during a barbecue at a homestay in Sittong were produced before the Kurseong court. The court denied their bail pleas and granted four days' police remand for further investigation. The homestay has also been closed down.
The accused have been identified as homestay staff members Nasiruddin, Dipen Lama and Nehal Airan along with homestay owner Pawan Kumar Agarwal.
A complaint was lodged at Kurseong Police Station on September 16. "Based on the complaints lodged by Souvik Das, the four accused were arrested and produced before the court on Saturday. The court denied their bail pleas and granted four days' police remand to facilitate further investigation," stated Saroj Sinha, Assistant Public Prosecutor, Kurseong.
The incident occurred on September 13 when newlywed couple Souvik Das and his wife Nikita Saha (Das), residents of Chopra Bazar in North Dinajpur district, were staying at the Sittong Aura Homestay during their honeymoon.
Nikita suffered severe burn injuries while a barbecue was being prepared at the homestay. She was subsequently shifted to a private hospital in Siliguri, where she is currently undergoing treatment in the ICU.
According to the couple's family, they had requested the homestay authorities to arrange a barbecue. While it was being prepared, an inflammable substance was poured into the barbecue to light the fire. The flames suddenly erupted and spread across Nikita's body. Souvik also suffered burns on his hand while attempting to rescue his wife.
Souvik had alleged negligence in the preparation of the barbecue, claiming that a trained barbecue chef was initially present but a homestay employee later took over. He alleged that excessive fuel was poured into the barbecue, resulting in a sudden flare-up.
He also alleged that the homestay lacked adequate firefighting arrangements and that there was a delay in arranging transport to take Nikita to hospital. Nikita has reportedly suffered around 60 per cent burn injuries.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Fire department conducted inspections in different homestays in the Hills to ensure that fire safety measures were in place.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.