New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The 15-year-old girl from Balanga in Odisha’s Puri district, who suffered critical burns, was declared dead at AIIMS, New Delhi on Saturday after battling for life for a fortnight.
The girl, who suffered 75% burn after being set ablaze on July 19 in Balanga area of Puri, breathed her last in the evening while undergoing treatment, official sources said.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief over the demise of the minor girl. In a post on ‘X’, the CM said he is deeply saddened to hear about the death of the Balanga girl.
“I am deeply shocked to hear the news of the death of the girl victim in the Balanga incident. Despite all the efforts of the government and the round-the-clock endeavours of the special medical team at AIIMS Delhi, her life could not be saved,” Majhi said.
The 15-year-old was allegedly abducted by three men and set on fire on the banks of Bhargavi river under Balanga police limits in Puri district on July 19 morning while she was on her way to a friend’s house. The girl, who sustained 75% burns in the incident, was airlifted from AIIMS-Bhubaneswar and received at AIIMS-Delhi on July 20.
On July 25, officials from the Odisha CID had recorded her statement in the presence of a magistrate, doctors and a family member. The entire process was video-recorded. The victim’s statement corroborated the findings of the five-member team of the CID, sources said.
Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida also expressed profound grief over the demise of the minor burn victim.
