Balanga (Puri): In a chilling account, the cousin of the Plus 2 girl student who was brutally set ablaze by miscreants in Odisha’s Puri district has narrated the terrifying sequence of events that unfolded on Saturday morning.

According to his statement, the minor girl was kidnapped by three unidentified persons near Bayabar village while she was on her way to a friend’s house around 7:30 AM. The attackers allegedly tied her hands and face before pouring a flammable substance and setting her on fire.

“My sister, with flames engulfing her body, ran nearly one kilometre and entered a nearby house seeking help. Her clothes had burned off, and she eventually lost consciousness. The house owner immediately informed us, and we alerted Balanga police. She was taken to a hospital in Pipili, and later referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for treatment,” said the cousin.

The victim, estimated to be around 15 years old, reportedly could not identify the attackers. The cousin said, "We do not know who did this. She was able to say that three men set her on fire, but she was not in a condition to describe them in detail."

As per AIIMS Bhubaneswar authorities, the girl suffered approximately 70% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) burns and is currently undergoing treatment in critical condition.

The incident, which occurred barely 500 metres from the girl’s home and around 5 to 7 kilometres from Balanga police station under Nimapara Block, has sparked outrage especially following the recent self-immolation case at FM College in Balasore.

Following the attack, a police team along with a scientific unit visited the spot and initiated a detailed investigation.

“This is a sensitive case. Ensuring medical care for the victim was our top priority. She was first taken to Pipili hospital for first aid and then shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for specialised treatment. A probe has been launched from all possible angles, and the culprits will be nabbed soon,” said Puri SP Pinak Mishra.

Meanwhile, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida has directed police to arrest the accused at the earliest and assured that the state government will bear all medical expenses of the victim.