Rayagada: In a disturbing incident, four students of an upgraded high school at Paikadakuluguda village under the Bissam Cuttack block sustained severe burn injuries on Monday after a fellow student allegedly threw colour thinner onto a nearby fire.
The injured have been identified as Biraja Takri, Nalina Huika, Rohit Khara, all in Class VII, and Sudaba Bagh, a Class V student. They were first taken to the Community Health Centre at Bissam Cuttack before being shifted to Christian Hospital in the district for specialised treatment. The condition of Biraja Takri is stated to be critical, sources said, adding that the incident took place at around 3 pm.
According to the Muniguda police station IIC, Saudamini Behera, the students discovered thinner stored in the school building. They poured it onto the rooftop and set it alight with a matchstick. The fire ignited immediately and spread quickly when additional thinner accidentally fell into it. “As a result, four students sustained burn injuries. Three of them are out of danger, while one student is undergoing treatment at the Rayagada district headquarters hospital,” Behera quoted as saying by The Hindu.
School headmaster Chandan Kalka said he was not present on campus at the time of the incident. A thorough inquiry would be conducted in consultation with teachers and staff to establish the full facts, he added.
