A newly married woman suffered 60% burns after a barbecue at a homestay in Sitong, Darjeeling, when kerosene was reportedly poured instead of cooking oil, police said on Friday (September 18, 2026). The incident occurred Thursday night and left the woman, identified as Nikita Saha, with severe burns that are now being treated at a private hospital in Siliguri.
Nikita’s husband, Samir Das, also sustained burn injuries while attempting to rescue her. He was discharged after receiving initial treatment. No arrests have been made in connection with the fire, and the incident is under investigation.
Police have collected CCTV footage that shows flames spreading rapidly after a liquid was poured onto the barbecue. The footage also captures Mr. Das removing his T‑shirt to try to extinguish the fire on his wife’s body. A jar containing the liquid was seized, and the investigation will determine the exact cause.
The couple, residents of Chopra in West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district, had been married for about two months and were on their honeymoon in Sitong. They lodged a complaint with the Kurseong police station. The homestay owner, Nihal Ayan, acknowledged employee negligence and said kerosene had been used. The family also alleges that safety precautions were lacking and that an ambulance arrived roughly 40 minutes after the incident, initially taking Nikita to a local hospital before she was transferred to Siliguri for further care.
