Puri Balanga minor burn victim dies at AIIMS Delhi, Odisha mourns tragic loss

In a heartbreaking development, the 16-year-old burn victim from Balanga in Puri district of Odisha, who was battling for her life after sustaining critical injuries after being allegedly set on fire, passed away at AIIMS Delhi on Saturday.

The victim had suffered over 75% burn injuries and was on ventilator support for several days.

The minor girl was reportedly attacked on July 19 near Bayabar village in Balanga when unidentified assailants poured a flammable substance on her and set her on fire in broad daylight. She was initially admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar before being airlifted to AIIMS Delhi on July 20 for advanced treatment.

Despite undergoing multiple surgeries and receiving intensive critical care, her condition remained precarious. 

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

Taking to his X handle, CM Mohan Majhi shared, “I am deeply shocked to hear the news of the death of the girl victim in the Balangir incident. Despite all the efforts of the government and the round-the-clock endeavors 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 added.

Likewise, Deputy CM Pravati Parida tweeted, “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.”

ପୁରୀ ଜିଲ୍ଲା ବଳଙ୍ଗା ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ଘଟିଥିବା ହୃଦୟ ବିଦାରକ ଘଟଣାରେ ପୀଡ଼ିତା ଝିଅଟିର ଦିଲ୍ଲୀ ଏମ୍ସରେ ଚିକିତ୍ସାଧୀନ ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ଗଭୀର ଭାବରେ ମର୍ମାହତ । ରାଜ୍ୟ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରକାର ସହଯୋଗ ତଥା ଦିଲ୍ଲୀ ଏମ୍ସର ବିଶେଷଜ୍ଞ ଡାକ୍ତରୀ ଦଳଙ୍କ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରଚେଷ୍ଟା ସତ୍ତ୍ବେ ତାଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ବଞ୍ଚାଯାଇ…

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) August 2, 2025

Meanwhile, the incident has sparked outrage across Odisha, with political leaders, civil society groups, and women’s organizations demanding swift justice for the victim. Protests have been held in several parts of the state, urging law enforcement to arrest those responsible without delay.