Four Arrested After Woman Suffers 60% Burns at Darjeeling Homestay
A newlywed woman suffered burns over about 60% of her body after a barbecue fire suddenly engulfed her at a homestay in Sittong, Darjeeling district, on September 13. Four people have now been arrested in connection with the incident, as police investigate how the fire started and whether safety arrangements at the property were adequate.
The woman, identified in police-linked reports as Nikita Saha, had travelled to Sittong with her husband, Souvik Das, from Chopra in West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district. The couple had married about two months earlier and were staying in the hills for their honeymoon.
The fire broke out during a barbecue session at the homestay on the night of September 13. CCTV footage from the property shows the couple sitting near the barbecue before the flames suddenly flared up after a liquid is poured onto the grill.
Nikita was caught in the resulting fire. Her husband also suffered burns while trying to rescue her.
Four arrested as police investigate
The case moved forward on Saturday, with police arresting four people connected with the homestay. According to the latest report from The Telegraph, those arrested include the property’s owners Pawan Kumar Agarwal and his son Nehal Airan, manager Dipen Lama, and worker Nasiruddin.
Police are examining the individual roles of those arrested and the circumstances that led to the fire.
The nature of the liquid used on the barbecue has also been a focus of the investigation. Earlier reports described it as kerosene, while other accounts referred to lighter fluid or another flammable substance. Police have seized CCTV footage and the container involved in the incident.
The exact sequence of events and the responsibility of each person remain subject to the investigation.
Woman remains critically injured
Nikita was taken for medical treatment in Siliguri following the incident and was reported to be in critical condition in the latest available reports.
Her husband was also treated for burn injuries but was later discharged.
Souvik filed a complaint at Kurseong police station alleging negligence by the homestay authorities. The family has also raised concerns about the availability of immediate medical assistance and safety equipment at the property.
Earlier reports said the family alleged that there was a delay in arranging transport after the incident. The homestay management disputed that account, saying efforts were made to arrange transportation and that the journey to Siliguri took considerable time because of the location.
Police have described the incident as an accident while continuing to investigate the precise circumstances.
CCTV footage becomes key evidence
The CCTV footage has become an important part of the investigation. It shows the couple seated beside the barbecue and a person approaching the fire with a container. The flames then intensify rapidly and spread towards Nikita.
The footage also shows Souvik attempting to put out the fire and another person removing his shirt to help extinguish the flames.
Police have taken possession of the footage as part of the investigation.
The accounts about what was poured onto the barbecue have differed. Souvik has alleged that turpentine oil was involved, while earlier reporting quoted the homestay side as saying kerosene or another flammable liquid had been used. The police investigation is expected to establish what substance was actually involved.
Questions over homestay safety
The incident has also brought attention to safety arrangements at homestays in the Darjeeling hills, particularly where properties offer barbecue or fire-based activities to visitors.
The victim’s family has alleged that adequate safety precautions and immediate medical assistance were not available at the property. The homestay management has denied allegations that staff deliberately delayed assistance.
Those claims have not been conclusively established. Police are examining the safety arrangements at the property alongside the circumstances of the fire.
For now, the central facts are clear: a barbecue fire at a Sittong homestay severely injured a newlywed woman; her husband was also hurt while trying to help her; and four people have been arrested while the investigation continues.
The woman’s medical condition and the findings of the police investigation remain the key outstanding developments.
