Girl Student Succumbs to Burns

CUTTACK: Kanakdei Bhatra, the Class X student of Ghataguda Upgraded High School in Nabarangpur district who attempted suicide after her parents failed to arrange her school fees last month, succumbed to her injuries at SCB Medical College and Hospital here on Thursday.

The girl had been battling for life with over 95 per cent burns at the Plastic Surgery and Burns unit of the hospital since July 26. A team of senior doctors drawn from different departments was specifically constituted for her care. But she could not be saved, Medical Officer BM Moharana told mediapersons, announcing her death, on Thursday.

Kanakdei’s suicide bid along with that of another girl, Banita Nayak, a student of Class VII of Aska Girls High School in Ganjam district the same month, had caused State-wide outrage, even drawing notice of the Orissa High Court.

Banita took the extreme step after her parents could not buy her notebooks and pencil.

In Kanakdei’s case, she had asked her parents to give `200, demanded by the headmaster of the school as fees on July 23. When her father expressed his inability to arrange the amount, the distraught girl doused herself with kerosene and set afire.

The High Court taking cognizance of the matter had, earlier this month, issued notice to the State Government. Acting on a PIL alleging the apathy of the Government in ensuring free education to the poor, the court had called for a detailed report on the issue.