Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 19 September 2025
Police have registered an FIR following a suspected arson incident at the Emerald Gecko Resort, Swaraj Dweep in South Andaman district. The incident occurred around 12:07 am on the intervening night of September 12 and 13, 2025.
According to the complaint filed with Swaraj Dweep Police Station, the resort’s guest relations manager noticed two rooms on fire and immediately raised an alarm. Staff members rushed to the scene and, using emergency firefighting equipment, managed to douse the flames before they could spread further.
The fire, which began in a washroom made of eco-friendly materials, spread quickly, damaging bamboo walls, thatched roofing, electrical wiring, and PVC water pipes. A second room, located several meters away, also caught fire in a similar manner. Both rooms sustained significant damage, though no injuries to staff or guests were reported.
The complainant noted that the nature of the fire appeared suspicious. On reviewing the CCTV footage, an unidentified individual was allegedly seen entering the resort premises between 12:07 am and 12:12 am, moving near the locations where the fire broke out, and leaving the premises shortly after the flames spread.
Police have registered an FIR under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, relating to mischief by fire and criminal trespass.
While no lives were lost, the complainant stated that the incident created a highly dangerous situation for guests and staff at the resort, given the possibility of the fire spreading uncontrollably. Property damage has been estimated in the range of ₹2–3 lakh.
The case has been taken up for investigation by the Swaraj Dweep Police.
