In a deeply distressing development, the 16-year-old minor girl from Balanga in Odisha’s Puri district, who had sustained severe burn injuries after allegedly being set on fire, succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at AIIMS Delhi. She was declared dead on August 2, after battling for her life for nearly two weeks.
The teenager, who had suffered more than 75 percent burn injuries, was initially admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar before being airlifted to the national capital on July 20 for advanced medical care. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries and receiving intensive treatment, her condition remained critical throughout her hospitalisation.
The incident occurred on July 19 near Bayabar village in Balanga, where the girl was allegedly attacked in broad daylight by unidentified assailants who reportedly poured a flammable substance on her and set her ablaze. The case triggered widespread outrage and concern, with civil society and political leaders demanding justice and accountability.
Chief Minister and deputy CM express grief
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his profound grief through a statement on X saying, “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 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.”
ବଳଙ୍ଗା ଘଟଣାରେ ପୀଡ଼ିତା ଝିଅଟିର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଗଭୀର ଭାବେ ମର୍ମାହତ। ସରକାରଙ୍କ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରୟାସ ଏବଂ ଏମ୍ସ ଦିଲ୍ଲୀରେ ବିଶେଷଜ୍ଞ ଡାକ୍ତରୀ ଦଳଙ୍କ ଅହୋରାତ୍ର ଚେଷ୍ଟା ସତ୍ତ୍ୱେ ତାଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ରକ୍ଷା କରାଯାଇ ପାରିଲା ନାହିଁ।
ମୁଁ ଝିଅଟିର ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରୁଛି ଏବଂ ଏହି ଅପୂରଣୀୟ କ୍ଷତିକୁ ସହିବା ପାଇଁ ତାଙ୍କ…
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) August 2, 2025
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida also condoled the tragic death. “Following an unexpected and unfortunate incident, the victim from Balanga, who was under treatment at Delhi AIIMS, has passed away. While praying for the eternal peace of the departed soul, I express my condolences to her family in this sorrowful situation. Despite all efforts by the medical team and the government, we are deeply saddened that she could not be saved,” she posted on social media.
ଏକ ଅଭାବନୀୟ ତଥା ଦୁର୍ଭାଗ୍ୟଜନକ ଅଘଟଣ ପରେ ଦିଲ୍ଲୀ ଏମ୍ସରେ ଚିକିତ୍ସାଧୀନ ଥିବା ବଳଙ୍ଗା ପୀଡ଼ିତାଙ୍କର ପରଲୋକ ଘଟିଛି। ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଏ ଦୁଖଃଦ ପରିସ୍ଥିତିରେ ତାଙ୍କ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି। ଡାକ୍ତରୀ ଦଳ ଏବଂ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରକାର ଚେଷ୍ଟା ସତ୍ତ୍ଵେ ବଞ୍ଚାଇ ପାରିନଥିବାରୁ ଆମେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ।
— Pravati Parida (@PravatiPOdisha) August 2, 2025
Odisha Police: ‘No evidence of involvement by others’
In a significant and somewhat unexpected turn, the Odisha Police, which has been investigating the case, released a formal statement denying the involvement of any other individual in the incident. “We are deeply saddened by the demise of the girl involved in the Balanga incident. The investigation into the matter has been conducted with utmost sincerity and is now in its final stage,” read the statement on X.
ବଳଙ୍ଗା ଘଟଣାରେ ପୀଡିତା ଝିଅଙ୍କ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ଆମେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ । ଏହି ଘଟଣାରେ ପୋଲିସ ପକ୍ଷରୁ ତଦନ୍ତ ନିଷ୍ଠାର ସହ କରାଯାଇଛି। ତଦନ୍ତ ଶେଷ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟାୟରେ ପହଞ୍ଚି ସାରିଛି। ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ହୋଇଥିବା ତଦନ୍ତ ଅନୁଯାୟୀ ଏହି ଘଟଣାରେ ଅନ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କ ସମ୍ପୃକ୍ତି ନ ଥିବା ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇଛି। ଏଣୁ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଅନୁରୋଧ…
— Odisha Police (@odisha_police) August 2, 2025
The police added that based on the investigation so far, no evidence has been found suggesting that anyone else was involved in the incident. They also urged the public to refrain from spreading or reacting to unverified claims, emphasising the importance of allowing the legal process to conclude with dignity and sensitivity.
Victim’s Father: ‘She ended her life due to mental distress’
The victim’s father issued an emotional video message acknowledging that his daughter took her own life due to extreme mental distress. “I have lost my daughter. She ended her life due to mental stress. The trauma she faced was unbearable,” he said.
He also appealed to political parties and the public not to politicise the tragedy. “The Odisha government has done a lot for me and my family. I humbly request that this matter not be politicised. Please pray for my daughter’s soul,” he added, urging for peace and respect during this painful time.
