Cuttack: A man died from burn injuries on Monday while receiving treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Odisha’s Cuttack, following an alleged attempt at self-immolation.
The victim has been identified as 32-year-old Amiya Singh. He had sustained 90% burn injuries.
According to sources, the incident took place near the busy Banki–Ostia area, where he poured petrol over himself and set himself ablaze around 2 pm. Passers-by and locals rushed to his aid, extinguished the flames and got him admitted to Athagarh Sub-Divisional Hospital from where he was referred to SCB MCH due to the critical nature of his injuries.
Family members attributed the desperate act to prolonged frustration and mental distress. They claimed Amiya had been seeking a compassionate government job following their father’s death in 2019. “My father worked in the Jobra Ground Water Department. Amiya has been running from pillar to post for years for a government job,” his brother, Abhijit Singh said, demanding a thorough investigation into the incident.
He also sought compensation and a job for a family member.
In an interaction with a local channel, Amiya, however, had earlier pointed to personal distress from a love affair for the extreme step. “This girl has been blackmailing me which deeply affected me,” he said.
