Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police on Saturday evening issued an emotional public appeal following the death of the minor girl from Balanga in Puri district, who succumbed to burn injuries at AIIMS-Delhi.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) at 8:53 PM, the Odisha Police stated: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the death of the victim girl in the Balanga incident. The police have conducted a thorough investigation into this matter, and it is in its final stages. Based on the investigation so far, it is clear that no other individual is involved. We request everyone not to make any sensitive comments regarding this matter during this tragic time.”

The girl, who sustained critical burn injuries on July 19, was first admitted to AIIMS-Bhubaneswar and later airlifted to AIIMS-Delhi for advanced treatment. Despite efforts by doctors, she passed away at 6:22 PM on Saturday.

The case, which has drawn significant public attention, is currently under investigation by the Crime Branch to determine the exact cause and circumstances of the incident.

Odisha Police’s public message reflects growing concern over the spread of misinformation and speculation, urging citizens to show empathy and patience as the investigation progresses.

Bhubaneswar: Minutes after news broke of the death of the 16-year-old girl from Balanga, who had suffered severe burn injuries, the Odisha Police stated no evidence has been found so far to establish the involvement of any other individual in the incident.

In a post on X, the Odisha Police said the investigation into the Balanga case has been conducted carefully and is now in its final stages. “So far, involvement of any other individual has not been established,” the post read, urging the public to refrain from making sensational statements.

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 ଅନ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କ ସମ୍ପୃକ୍ତି ନ ଥିବା ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇଛି। ଏଣୁ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଅନୁରୋଧ ଯେ,ଏହି… — Odisha Police (@odisha_police) August 2, 2025

The minor girl succumbed to her injuries after battling for life for nearly two weeks at AIIMS, New Delhi. She had sustained 75% burn injuries and was airlifted from AIIMS Bhubaneswar to New Delhi on July 19 for advanced treatment.

The girl was reportedly set on fire on July 19 in the Balanga area of Odisha’s Puri district. According to reports, three unidentified youths on a motorcycle allegedly intercepted her, tied a handkerchief around her face, doused her with an inflammable liquid, and set her ablaze. The incident occurred around 5 to 7 kilometres from the Balanga police station.

Condoling her death, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said in a post on X that despite the efforts of the State Government and a team of specialist doctors at AIIMS New Delhi, her life could not be saved. He also prayed for strength and courage for the bereaved family.

Deputy Chief Minister and Nimapara legislator Pravati Parida also expressed her condolences over the tragic incident.

A few days ago, Puri SP Pinak Mishra confirmed the girl’s statement had been recorded at AIIMS New Delhi. The statement was taken by the IIC of Balanga Police Station, in the presence of a woman Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

The 15-year-old girl who was set on fire by three miscreants in Odisha’s Puri, succumbed to her injuries on Saturday while undergoing treatment at AIIMS Delhi. The minor had sustained 75 percent burns. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep shock over the victim’s death.

The minor was set ablaze by three unidentified men on the morning of June 19 when she was on her way to her relative’s home.

In a post on X, CM Majhi said: “I am deeply shocked to hear the news of the death of the girl from Balanga area. Despite all the efforts of the government and the round-the-clock endeavours of specialist medical team at AIIMS Delhi, her life could not be saved.

I pray for the eternal peace of the girl’s soul and pray before God to grant strength to her family to bear this irreparable loss.”

The 15-year-old was reportedly abducted and taken to an isolated place near the Bhargavi river bank in Puri by the miscreants, who allegedly poured some inflammable liquid on her and set her ablaze before fleeing the scene. Upon hearing her screams, residents rushed to help her and immediately took her to a hospital.

The girl was airlifted from AIIMS Bhubaneswar and received at AIIMS New Delhi at 4:20 PM on July 20. A statement by AIIMS Delhi had confirmed that the minor sustained 75 percent burns and was admitted to the Burn ICU in the Burns and Plastic Surgery block.

Since then her condition remained critical and she was on oxygen support.

“Patient with 75% burns was airlifted from AIIMS Bhubaneswar and received at AIIMS, New Delhi, at 4.20 pm. She is currently admitted to the Burn ICU in the Burns and Plastic Surgery block. Her condition is critical, and she is on oxygen support. A team of doctors is closely monitoring her condition,” said a statement issued by AIIMS Delhi.

Bhubaneswar: The 15-year-old girl who was allegedly set on fire by three unidentified miscreants in Puri district a fortnight ago, succumbed to her burn injury while undergoing treatment in AIIMS Delhi, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Saturday, August 2.

The girl was allegedly kidnapped and set on fire by three unknown people on the morning of July 19 on the banks of river Bhargavi in Puri district.

The incident took place when the minor was walking down to her house after meeting a friend. She was intercepted and abducted by three people who poured inflammable substance and set her ablaze, her mother had stated in an FIR at Balanga Police Station.

She had sustained over 70 percent burn injury. She was initially rushed to Pipili Community Health Centre on July 19. She was later on that day shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar and the next day airlifted to AIIMS, Delhi, where she underwent at least two surgeries and skin grafting.

Odisha Police, in the presence of a magistrate, had recorded the statement of the victim at AIIMS, Delhi, on Friday.

Majhi in a post on X said: “I am deeply shocked to hear the news of the death of the girl from Balanga area. Despite all the efforts of the government and the round-the-clock endeavours of specialist medical team at AIIMS Delhi, her life could not be saved. I pray for the eternal peace of the girl’s soul and pray before God to grant strength to her family to bear this irreparable loss.”

Odisha’s Deputy Chief Ministers – KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida – have also expressed condolences over the demise of the girl.

BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik expressed his deep grief over the demise of the minor girl and conveyed his condolences to the family of the deceased girl.

A delegation of BJD MPs led by its Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra said they are rushing to the AIIMS Delhi.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das also expressed his condolences and demanded the arrest of the three culprits involved in the burning of the girl within seven days. “We will gherao the DGP office if the culprits are not held within seven days,” Das said.

Odisha police also expressed grief over the incident and claimed that the investigation into the girl burning incident has reached the last stage. The police claimed that there was no other person involved in the incident and urged all not to make any sensational statements over the matter.

Though 15 days have passed since the girl was set on fire, the police have not been able to nab any of the culprits involved in the case, he said.

Das described August 2 as a “Bad Saturday” as the girl was also set on fire on Saturday (July 19).

Meanwhile, sources said the Puri police have deployed some personnel near the deceased girl’s house at Balanga.

The incident has sparked outrage as it came close on the heels of a 20-year-old college student resorting to self-immolation and succumbing to 95 percent burn injury in Balasore over a sexual harassment incident.

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.