Unlicensed hotels in Union Territory to face music following tragic electrocution incident in Daman hotel

Daman :  In the wake of a heart-wrenching incident at Hotel Nana’s Palace in Daman, where a father and his six-year-old son tragically lost their lives due to electrocution, the Union Territory Administration of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu has taken a firm stance against unlicensed hotels, homestays, and bed and breakfast establishments operating in the Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli (DNH), and Diu districts.

Arun Gupta, Director of Tourism for DNH&DD, issued a circular mandating that unlicensed accommodations immediately cease operations and acquire the necessary licenses. Failure to comply would result in legal actions against these establishments.

The Union Territory Administration emphasized that hotels, homestays, and bed and breakfast businesses are required to obtain licenses as per the provisions of Section 7 of the DNH&DD Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1992. However, it has come to the administration’s attention that many such businesses are operating without the requisite registration and license, in clear violation of the Act and associated regulations.

This crucial step taken by the Daman administration is aimed at ensuring the safety of both residents and tourists. In addition to enforcing licensing requirements, a comprehensive electric safety audit has been ordered for all hotels, guest houses, and bungalows in the region, regardless of their size. This proactive measure is intended to prevent tragic accidents like the one that occurred at Hotel Nana’s Palace from happening in the future.

The devastating incident unfolded at Hotel Nana’s Palace, located on Sea Face Road in Daman on October 2, where Srikant Vaghela, a 35-year-old man, and his family had chosen to spend a weekend holiday. Hailing from Nadiad in Gujarat, the Vaghela family had selected Hotel Nana’s Palace for their getaway.

Tragedy struck when Srikant’s six-year-old son, Shenon, entered the bathroom of their hotel room and cried out for help. Rushing to the bathroom, Srikant and his wife were met with the heartbreaking sight of their son being electrocuted. In a desperate attempt to save his son, Srikant reached out to him but, tragically, was also electrocuted. Both father and son lost their lives on the spot, leaving their family and hotel staff in a state of shock.