$3.25 Million Verdict for Bonfire Burns at South Baltimore Hindu Festival

On January 14, 2024, members of Baltimore's Hindu community gathered at Shri Radha Govind Pashupatinath Temple in South Baltimore to celebrate a traditional harvest holiday. The outdoor celebration included a communal bonfire. Heavy wind made the fire difficult to sustain, and the temple's founder, Srivash Das, responded by adding gasoline. A gust carried the fuel into the crowd of attendees, many of whom stood roughly six feet from the flames. The fire expanded suddenly and engulfed several people.

Seven people were burned. Among the most seriously hurt was a 3-year-old girl who sustained severe, life-altering burns to her face and hands. Her parents also suffered burns while trying to protect her and extinguish the flames. Four of the injured parties ultimately joined the civil lawsuit.

Gloria Worch of Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. brought the case to a two-day bench trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court. The plaintiffs argued that the festival organizers were negligent in constructing and operating an open bonfire in dangerously windy conditions with no protective barriers between the flames and the crowd. The defense offered no meaningful rebuttal to the foreseeability of harm.

Judge Dana Middleton ruled in favor of the plaintiffs on February 19, 2026. The total verdict was $3,250,479. The child plaintiff received the largest share, just under $2.5 million, comprising past and future medical costs plus noneconomic damages of $1.5 million reduced to the statutory cap of $935,000. The remaining damages were divided among the other plaintiffs.

The verdict was entered against Sunder Govind Das, the temple vice president, and the temple entity. Srivash Das, the founder who added the gasoline, had filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy before trial, which stayed civil proceedings against him personally. He lacked liability insurance, and any recovery from him now depends on his bankruptcy plan.