Rayagada, 5/1 : A shocking incident at Paikdakulguda High School in the Bissam Cuttack block of Rayagada district on Monday, January 5, 2026, left four students with burn injuries after a fellow student allegedly poured thinner on them and set it alight. The incident, which occurred around 3 PM, has raised serious concerns regarding student safety within school premises.
The injured students have been identified as Biraj Takri (Class 7), Nalin Huika (Class 7), Rohit Khara (Class 7), and Sudham Bagh (Class 5). Among them, Biraj Takri is reported to be in critical condition, while the others are stable but under observation.
According to initial reports, the incident took place when some students were on the school premises. A student allegedly poured an inflammable liquid substance, identified as thinner, on the four victims and ignited it, causing them to suffer severe burns. While the exact motive behind the attack remains unclear, preliminary accounts suggest it might have been an act of mischief or bullying gone horribly wrong. One report also indicated that the incident might have occurred after the students urinated at a spot within the school premises.
School teachers immediately responded to the cries for help, rushing the injured students to the Bissam Cuttack Community Health Centre (CHC) for primary treatment. Due to the severity of their injuries, they were later shifted to the Christian Hospital at Bissam Cuttack for advanced medical care. Sources also mentioned that some students were referred to a private hospital in Cuttack for further specialized treatment.
High School Headmaster Chandan Kalaka stated that an investigation would be launched to understand the circumstances that led to such an unfortunate incident occurring in the presence of other teachers. Rayagada Superintendent of Police (SP) Swathy S Kumar confirmed that four Class 7 students had sustained burn injuries and were hospitalized, adding that the cause of the incident was yet to be ascertained. Muniguda police officer Saudamini Behera confirmed she was en route to the site to investigate, and Rayagada Collector Ashutosh Kulkarni expressed concern over how a Class 5 student procured the inflammable substance, especially since the incident reportedly occurred near an under-construction site. No arrests have been made in connection with the incident so far. The unfortunate event has sparked panic among students, parents, and school staff, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced safety measures in educational institutions.
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