In a shocking incident, a hotelier from Maharashtra but residing at Calangute allegedly tried to end his life by setting himself on fire in Muddowada-Saligao late Friday evening, after reportedly being under severe stress over pending loans.
Ashpak Khan (50) has been seriously injured and is undergoing treatment at GMC hospital in Bambolim with 95 per cent burn injuries.
According to sources, the incident took place on the third floor of a building, when Khan went to the house of his former business partner in Saligao. Khan went to the terrace of the three-storey house, where he doused himself in petrol and set himself ablaze.
On hearing his screams, family members of his former business partner rushed to the terrace and were horrified to see Khan engulfed in flames. A 108 ambulance rushed him to the Mapusa District Hospital in a critical condition. Since he had sustained 95 per cent burn injuries, he was referred to the GMC hospital.
Sources said Khan and a friend were running three hotels on lease in Calangute. On account of a huge loss in the hotel business during the Covid pandemic, Khan had taken a number of loans to make up for this loss. The business continued to be affected and the loans began to pile up, putting Khan under severe stress.
Saligao police are conducting further investigations under the guidance of Police Inspector Dinesh Gadekar.
