Minor boy falls into vessel with hot rice pudding, dies during treatment in Odisha’s Nuapada

Khariar/Nuapada: In a tragic incident,  a minor boy succumbed to burn injuries on Sunday after falling into a vessel containing hot rice pudding in Nuapada district of Odisha.

The four year-old, identified as Bikas Herna of Ranimunda village in Khariar block of the district, died during treatment at a hospital in Raipur in neighbouring Chhattisgarh. He was the son of one Hutesh Herna, a teacher in the mass education department. Sources said Hutesh had married twice. While he had a girl from his first marriage, Bikas was his son from the second wife.

As per reports, a feast was being organised in Ranimunda on May 25th night for which the rice pudding was being prepared. While the reason behind the mishap is still not ascertained, sources said the boy accidentally fell into the vessel when the rice pudding was being prepared. While his father Hutesh rushed to his rescue and somehow managed to pull him out, both his hands were charred. Bikas too suffered major burn injuries and was rushed to the  Mission hospital nearby for preliminary treatment. As his condition worsened, Bikas was immediately referred to a hospital in Raipur. However, he succumbed during treatment on Sunday night.

A pall of gloom descended on the village following the mishap.

Police informed that a case has been registered and investigation is underway. The body has been seized for autopsy.