Minor girl in Odisha dies after setting herself on fire

A minor girl, who allegedly set herself ablaze in Odisha’s Bargarh district, succumbed to burn injuries on Monday (August 11, 2025).

The 13-year-year old girl took this extreme step in a field in Phiringimal under Gaisilet police station limit of Bargarh district on Monday morning (August 11, 2025). The girl had come to maternal uncle’s house on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

Odisha girl allegedly set afire dies; police claim ‘no other person involved’ in incident

She was first rushed to a private hospital and later referred to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Burla. The girl died during treatment at Burla.

“We have registered a case of unnatural death. She was studying in Class VIII in a residential school. She was not keeping well in hostel and was supposed to return school shortly. However, the unfortunate incident happened in the morning leading to her death,” said Himanshu Lal, Inspector General of Police (northern region).

G. Abhilash, Balangir Superintendent of Police, who is in charge of Bargarh district, said, “we have seized the video in which she had said something before her self-immolation. We are investigating into the incident by taking every aspect into account.”

A special team comprising multiple inspectors in charge of various police stations was questioning the family members and her classmates would also be questioned.

In the past one month, Odisha has witnessed deaths of four girls who have ended their lives in the similar manner. First, a girl ended her life on the campus of FM Autonomous College, Balasore on July 11, outside the office of principal and died on July 14. She accused her teacher of harassment and was aggrieved for non-redressal of her allegations.

In Balanga police station under Puri district, another minor girl died under mysterious circumstances. Though initial reports suggested that some miscreants had kidnapped her and set her on fire, police investigation denied involvement of any other persons in her death. Last week, a college student was found burnt at her home in Kendrapara district. Her former boyfriend was arrested for allegedly blackmailing her. Now, the death of one more girl has come as a shocker.