Odisha School Boy Sets Himself Ablaze, Succumbs At Hospital

Mayurbhanj: A Class IX boy student reportedly set himself on fire following a quarrel with his elder sister at their house in Pasuda village under Gopabandhu Nagar block of the district on Tuesday. Sustaining over 90% burn injuries, the minor boy Kalidas Marndi was immediately rushed to Baripada hospital but he succumbed while undergoing treatment.

According to his uncle Purna Chandra Marndi, the incident happened this morning when the boy refused to go to school. Even though his sister rebuked him asking him to attend classes, he was adamant and the argument continued for a while.

"Disturbed over this, the boy later locked himself inside a room, poured kerosene on himself and burnt himself. With the help of some neighbours, we rescued him and got him admitted to Baripada hospital. The doctors informed that he received 90 per cent burns on his body," said Marndi.

"Father used to drop him at school everyday while on some occasions he used to return home early or stayed back skipping classes. Today when I scolded him, he locked himself in a room and set himself ablaze," said a teary-eyed Laxmi Marandi, Kalidas' sister.

For Pasuda School Principal, Gajendra Nath Katual, Kalidas was a silent boy, though insincere towards classes. "He (Kalidas) remained silent always in school. But he wasn't regular. His sister is BA pass, so I have heard that they were pressurising him to study."

While police could not be contacted over the issue, sources said an investigation has been initiated.