Panchkula: A young man sustained severe burn injuries following a fire incident at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula on Saturday evening, prompting swift action from local authorities and emergency services.
Police said they received a distress call through the 112 helpline after bystanders noticed the man engulfed in flames inside the stadium complex. Officers rushed to the scene and, with the assistance of an ambulance team, shifted him to the General Hospital in Sector 6 for urgent medical care.
The injured man, identified as Sahil, is a resident of Sector 20 in Panchkula and originally hails from Phillaur in Ludhiana district. His family currently lives in Sectors 20 and 25 of the city. A duty magistrate reached the hospital to record his statement.
In his account, Sahil said he had gone to the stadium for a walk late in the evening and was burning an old bedsheet he had brought along. During the process, the flames allegedly spread from the sheet to his clothing, causing him to catch fire. He began shouting for help, drawing the attention of people nearby who immediately alerted emergency services.
After initial treatment at the government hospital, doctors referred him to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh for specialized care due to the seriousness of his injuries.
Sector 20 Station House Officer Sombir Dhaka stated that preliminary information from the family suggests the man had been under emotional stress stemming from a domestic dispute with his wife. According to officials, he had been struggling with depression for some time.
Police are continuing to gather details surrounding the incident, though the injured man has maintained that the fire began accidentally while he was burning the sheet.
