Condition of Odisha student who immolated self remains ‘critical’; dialysis commences

The condition of a 20-year-old college student, who immolated herself over an alleged sexual harassment incident in Odisha’s Balasore district, remains critical. Doctors at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar started her dialysis as part of the initiation of renal replacement therapy, a treating medical practitioner said.

The second-year student of the integrated BEd programme at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore had on Saturday set herself on fire, demanding action against a teacher who had allegedly sexually assaulted and mentally harassed her.

Dialysis commenced following consultation with experts from AIIMS-Delhi, said Dr Sanjay Giri, additional professor and HoD, Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar.

Dr Giri said the hospital authorities have informed the patient’s family about her health condition. She shows a high heartbeat rate at 180 per bpm (beats per minute) even under ventilator support, he said.

“About 95 per cent of the victim’s body has suffered severe burn injuries. Her kidneys and lungs are also affected. She is currently on critical care support,” AIIMS-Bhubaneswar executive director Dr Ashutosh Biswas told reporters here on Sunday.

The woman was admitted on Saturday and hospital authorities said that the next 48 hours are vital and the victim is not showing any sign of improvement.

Stating that doctors of multiple departments were engaged in her treatment, Biswas said that her entire body has been burned except for some patches on her face.

“At this moment, we cannot say anything,” he said.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited the hospital. “Her condition remains critical. She is being provided treatment akin to that available in AIIMS-Delhi. A medical team has been formed. The government will consider airlifting the patient after her condition stabilises,” Majhi told reporters.

Hospital sources said that apart from doctors of the burn department, experts of critical care, surgery, nephrology, and pulmonology are monitoring her health condition round-the-clock.

The hospital has constituted a 10-member expert committee comprising doctors from anaesthesia, pulmonary medicine, burn, nephrology and other departments. “The committee can co-opt any other faculty member of any other critical department as and when required,” an office order said.

Following the self-immolation, the Odisha government on Saturday placed the college principal under suspension as he “failed” to perform his duties in the capacity of his post, an order issued by the Higher Education Department said.

Balasore district police arrested the accused teacher, Samira Kumar Sahu, on Saturday.

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