A 15-year-old girl from Puri, who was airlifted to AIIMS Delhi last month after suffering 75% burns, died on Saturday. While it was initially suspected that she was set on fire by unidentified assailants, Odisha Police said in a statement after her death that their investigation showed “no other person is involved in this incident”.
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In a social media post, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed shock at the teenager’s death. “Despite all efforts of the government and round-the-clock endeavours 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 said in a post on X.
The girl was airlifted to Delhi on July 20, a day after she suffered the critical burn injuries. At the time, sources had said she was ambushed by three assailants on a motorcycle at an isolated place in Puri. According to the sources, the assailants tied a handkerchief around her face, doused her with a flammable substance and set her ablaze before fleeing. On hearing her screams, residents rushed to her help and took her to a local hospital. She was later taken to AIIMS Bhubaneswar before being airlifted to Delhi.
However, Odisha Police on Saturday said in a post on X, “We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the death of the victim in the Balanga incident. The police have conducted the investigation with utmost sincerity. The investigation has reached its final stage. According to the investigation conducted so far, it has been clarified that no other person is involved in this incident. Therefore, we request everyone not to make any insensitive comments regarding this in this tragic moment.”
A case was registered at Balanga police station in Odisha’s Puri district, and the police recorded her statement twice. No arrests were made.
After she was airlifted to AIIMS Delhi, she underwent multiple surgeries for deep burns and received intensive care. However, she succumbed to her injuries while on ventilator support.
Throughout her stay at the hospital, she was on oxygen support and her condition remained critical.
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On Friday, she underwent a skin grafting surgery, but her condition remained critical, AIIMS Delhi doctors had said. She was being treated at the Burn ICU in the Burns and Plastic Surgery block.
