Odisha: 15-year-old girl set afire in Puri, airlifted to AIIMS Delhi, dies

The girl, a Class 10 student, was allegedly set ablaze in Bayabar village under Balanga police limits. She had suffered 75% burn injuries

Updated on: Aug 3, 2025, 05:00:22 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Bhubaneswar: The 15-year-old girl in Odisha’s Puri district who was allegedly set on fire by three unknown men on July 19 died on Saturday while receiving treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

The police have detained eight people, including the girl’s relatives, but are yet to reach any definite conclusion. (PTI)

The minor, who had suffered 75% burn injuries, was airlifted to AIIMS Delhi the next day for advanced treatment.

The girl, a Class 10 student, was allegedly set ablaze in Bayabar village under Balanga police limits. She had alleged that three bike-borne youths kidnapped her, rendered her unconscious, and set her on fire on the Bhargavi riverbed on July 19. The girl managed to flee the scene and took shelter at a nearby house. She was immediately admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar the same day, where police recorded her statement.

A day later, she was airlifted to AIIMS New Delhi, where she underwent skin grafting as well as daily administration of immunoglobulin injections to stop the spread of infection.

Also Read: Odisha girl, who was set afire, airlifted to AIIMS Delhi; Hunt on for accused

Chief minister Mohan Majhi wrote on X, “The state government ensured the best possible treatment, but we are devastated by this outcome. The investigation is ongoing, and the culprits will face stringent punishment.”

Meanwhile, the probe into the case continues. The police had detained eight people, including the girl’s relatives, but let them go and are yet to reach any definite conclusion.

Also Read: Girl, 15, set on fire by 3 men in Odisha’s Puri days after Balasore student’s self-immolation

“The investigation into the case is now in its final stages, with the police examining thoroughly the circumstances and motive behind the incident. All legal aspects are being meticulously examined to ensure a thorough and just outcome,” a police officer said.

The death of the minor girl comes nearly two weeks after the death of a 20-year-old college student in Odisha’s Balasore district, following a self-immolation attempt over alleged sexual harassment by a professor at Fakir Mohan College.

Opposition parties Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress have criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with former chief minister Naveen Patnaik calling it a “systemic failure of governance.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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