A 15-year-old girl was set on fire by miscreants in Odisha’s Puri district on Saturday, officials said. She was rushed to AIIMS Bhubaneswar in a critical condition, they said.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who is in charge of the Women and Child Development Department, confirmed the incident in an X post, stating: “I am saddened and shocked to hear the news that some miscreants at Balanga in Puri district poured petrol on a fifteen-year-old girl on the road and set her on fire.”

Girl shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar

“The girl has been immediately shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and all arrangements are being made for her treatment. All the expenses of the treatment will be borne by the government. The police administration has been directed to arrest the culprits immediately and take strict action,” the deputy chief minister said.

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Victim was going to friend’s house

Three miscreants allegedly set a 15-year-old girl on fire in Bayabar village while she was on her way to visit a friend, according to eyewitness accounts. The attackers reportedly approached the girl suddenly and set her ablaze before fleeing the scene.

Local residents who witnessed the horrifying incident rushed to her aid and informed authorities. The girl sustained severe burn injuries and was immediately taken to the nearby hospital.

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Police have launched an investigation and are trying to identify and trace the absconding suspects.

The Deputy Chief Minister, who also heads the Women and Child Development Department, expressed deep concern over the incident and assured that the government will extend full support for the girl’s treatment. In a statement, she said that the administration is closely monitoring the situation and that all necessary medical assistance is being provided.