Balasore Woman Attempts Self-Immolation Amid Domestic Dispute

Bhubaneswar: In yet another distressing incident from Odisha’s Balasore district, a 50-year-old woman reportedly attempted self-immolation following a domestic dispute. The incident took place on Thursday afternoon in the ADM Square area under Sahadevkhunta police limits.

According to reports, the woman poured kerosene over herself and set herself ablaze in the kitchen of her house around 1 PM. Her husband, who was in another room at the time, rushed to her rescue upon noticing the fire.

The woman sustained around 70 per cent burn injuries and was immediately taken to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) by locals. Due to the severity of her condition, she was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for advanced treatment. Her husband also suffered burn injuries while trying to save her and is currently undergoing treatment at Balasore DHH.

This incident comes just days after the tragic self-immolation attempt of a 20-year-old B.Ed student from FM Autonomous College in Balasore. The student had alleged continued sexual harassment by the head of the Education Department, and despite filing complaints with both the college authorities and the police, no action was reportedly taken. She sustained over 90 per cent burn injuries and died while undergoing treatment at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on July 14.

The student’s death has sparked massive public outrage across Odisha, highlighting growing concerns over both domestic and institutional apathy towards mental health and safety issues. Authorities have been urged to step up preventive measures and ensure justice for victims of harassment and domestic violence.