15-year-old Puri girl set ablaze by miscreants dies at AIIMS Delhi; probe on
Bhubaneswar: In a tragic turn of events, a 15-year-old girl from Balanga in Odisha’s Puri district, who had sustained severe burn injuries in a brutal attack last month, died at AIIMS Delhi on Saturday.
The teenager had suffered more than 75% burns after unidentified attackers allegedly doused her with a flammable substance and set her ablaze near Bayabar village on July 19. The shocking assault took place in broad daylight, leaving the minor in critical condition.
Initially admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, she was airlifted to AIIMS Delhi the following day for specialised treatment. A press relese from AIIMS Delhi stated that she was admitted to the Burn ICU in the Burns and Plastic Surgery block, and placed on oxygen support. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, and receiving round-the-clock critical care, her condition remained extremely fragile.
Doctors had been closely monitoring her progress, but her injuries proved too severe. Her death has sparked renewed calls for justice, as police continue to search for those responsible for the heinous attack.
CM expresses condolences
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed condolences via his X handle, stating, “I am deeply shocked to hear the news of the death of the girl victim in the Balangir incident. Despite all the efforts of the government and the round-the-clock endeavors of the specialist medical team at AIIMS Delhi, her life could not be saved.”
“I pray for the eternal peace of the girl's soul and beseech God to grant strength to her family to bear this irreparable loss”, he added.
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida Read had earlier promised that the state government would bear all expenses for the girl’s treatment and directed the police to ensure swift and strict action against the perpetrators.
The incident came close on the heels of a 20-year-old college student resorting to self-immolation and succumbing to 95 per cent burn injury in Balasore over a sexual harassment incident.