Bhubaneswar, 4 August (H.S.) The final rites of the Balanga burn victim, who tragically succumbed to severe burn injuries on Saturday, were conducted on Sunday morning at her ancestral village, Bayabari, in Odisha’s Puri district.
District authorities had made elaborate arrangements for the burial, ensuring both ceremonial needs and security measures were in place. Multiple platoons of police personnel were deployed in and around the village to maintain law and order.
The mortal remains of the 16-year-old victim arrived at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar around 11:15 PM on Saturday via an IndiGo flight from Delhi, following an autopsy at AIIMS Delhi.
The airport premises witnessed an overwhelming outpouring of grief, with leaders from major political parties including the BJP, BJD, and Congress in attendance. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida also offered prayers, as per Islamic traditions, before the body was taken to the village in a police-escorted hearse van.
The victim was allegedly set on fire on July 19 near the Bhargavi River in Balanga, Puri district. Despite sustaining critical burn injuries, she managed to run to a nearby residence, where locals quickly responded, informed her family, and arranged for her to be taken to a hospital in Pipili. She was later referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar due to the severity of her condition.
On July 20, she was airlifted to AIIMS Delhi for advanced treatment. Despite the efforts of medical teams, she succumbed to her injuries on the evening of August 3.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
