The student of a leading government college in Odisha’s Balasore succumbed to her injuries late Monday night after setting herself on fire over alleged sexual harassment by her professor, said hospital sources.
On Saturday, the student, while staging a dharna on the campus, set herself on fire moments after meeting the principal in his chamber. According to CCTV footage, a group of students tried to save her.
The victim was first rushed to the Balasore district headquarters hospital and later referred to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, with over 90% burn injuries on Saturday. A team of experts was treating her at the burn unit of the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.
“Despite adequate resuscitation and all possible supportive management, including renal replacement therapy at Burns ICU, she could not be revived and was declared clinically dead at 11:46 PM on 14/07/25,” said a statement issued by AIIMS, Bhubaneswar late at night.
The body was handed over to the family members after the post-mortem, and her last rites will be performed at her native village in Balasore district.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi condoled the death of the student and assured that the government stands firmly with the family.
“Despite the government’s fulfilment of all responsibilities and the tireless efforts of the expert medical team, the victim’s life could not be saved. I pray for the eternal peace of her departed soul and beseech Lord Jagannath to grant strength to her family to bear this irreparable loss,” said Majhi in a post on X.
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Majhi, in his post, also reiterated that the guilty will face the strictest punishment as per the law.
The police have so far arrested two persons, including the accused professor and principal of the college in this case.