KULLU/SHIMLA: HimbuMail's recent exposé has led to a resolution of a distressing incident in Kullu district, where two tourists from Delhi faced mistreatment by a guest house owner during flash floods in the Parvati valley from July 10 to July 15.
The tourists, Pragya and Rishab Sharma from Delhi, were staying at Romani House in Kulga when the floods disrupted their travel plans.
However, when evacuation began, they also wanted to leave the place and pleaded to settle their bills online as they ran out cash at hand. But they could not due to the severed connectivity in the valley.
Allegedly, the guest house owner attempted to detain them and withheld their belongings, including phones and earring, as a form of security until payment was made. This led to humiliation for the tourists in front of other guests, they had charged in the complaint.
Upon learning of the incident, Pragya's father, Indu Prakash Singh, a renowned social activist and writer based in Delhi, filed a formal complaint with the District Commissioner (DC) of Kullu, seeking action against the proprietor for his "insulting behavior in an hour of crisis."
In response to the news report, the DC swiftly instructed the district tourism officer to conduct a thorough investigation.
Recognizing the potential harm to Himachal's image, the HP Congress Vichar Vibhag also raised the matter with the DC Kullu as it sullied the image of Himachal in the eyes of the tourists, who are the mainstay of the state's tourism industry.
After presenting his side of the story to the officer, the guest house owner was fined Rs 10,000 as compensation for the mistreatment endured by Pragya and Rishab during their stay.
The owner defended their actions, claiming that the tourists had initially attempted to leave without paying a bill of over Rs 12,000, which was later settled, according to the owner's statement to HimbuMail. Their intention was never to insult their guests, but they created scene as Pragya started crying there.
But Pragya's response to the extraordinary situation was natural and spontaneous, considering the magnitude of the fury of downpours and floods in the Parbati valley that marooned it from the outside world for over a week.
Realising the gravity of the situation caused by the flashfloods and downpours, the owner of the guesthouse conveyed his apology and remorse to the traumatised guests and paid them compensation after he was summoned by the district administration.
HimbuMail's impactful coverage not only shed light on the incident but also garnered widespread public attention and appreciation.
Indu Prakash Singh expressed gratitude for the prompt response and the sense of justice it brought, a rarity even in other countries.
Singh commended the efficient handling of the case by the district administration, especially the District Tourism Office, for resolving the matter in record time. The victims have received the compensation, he told HimbuMail and shared his message on social media as well.
He hopes that Himachal Pradesh's model of just adjudication will inspire the entire country to adopt similar practices.
This incident serves as a testament to the power of responsible journalism and the significance of swift action in ensuring justice prevails, even in challenging circumstances. The swift action has also ensured Image of Himachal, where time-honoured 'Attithi Devo Bhav'(guests are like gods) mantra is followed and hold in high esteem.
Director Tourism and civil Aviation, Amit Kashyap appreciated HimbuMail for bringing the matter to the notice of the authority that prompted them to take action as they view such thing with seriousness in this DevBhoomi that Himachal is.
