Class VII Student Dies of Burn Injuries After Rayagada School Fire Mishap

Bhubaneswar: A 12-year-old student who sustained critical burn injuries in a fire accident at Paikadakuluguda Primary School in Rayagada district succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

The deceased has been identified as Biren Takri, a Class VII student. The tragic incident occurred on January 5 at the school located in the Bissam Cuttack block of Rayagada district.

According to reports, the mishap took place when a group of students were allegedly playing with a thinner bottle inside the school premises. The highly inflammable substance accidentally caught fire, engulfing their clothes and leaving four students severely injured.

Apart from Biren, three other students — Naveen Huika, Rohit Khora, and Sudam Bag — were also injured in the incident. While the three students recovered after treatment and were later discharged, Biren remained critical and was undergoing advanced medical care at SCB Medical College and Hospital due to the severity of his burns.

Following Biren’s death, tension gripped the village. Alleging negligence and inadequate medical treatment, the grieving family members and local villagers staged a sit-in protest on the school premises and locked the teachers inside the school building.

Upon being informed, police reached the spot, intervened, and safely released the teachers. The crowd was dispersed after nearly three hours, restoring normalcy in the area.

Further investigation into the incident is underway.