Bhubaneswar: In a disturbing incident highlighting the rising cases of self-immolation among young women in Odisha, an 18-year-old college student from Rajgangpur town in Sundargarh district sustained over 90 percent burn injuries after allegedly setting herself on fire at her residence late on Friday night. The young student, who is an undergraduate at a local college, is currently battling for her life at Ispat General Hospital in Rourkela, where doctors are working relentlessly to treat her critical condition.

The incident, according to police officials, occurred after the teenager had a conversation with a male friend, which reportedly led to a dispute. Sundargarh Superintendent of Police, Amritpal Kaur, confirmed that preliminary investigations indicated that the accused, identified as 25-year-old Nilesh Sahu, had been stalking and harassing the young woman for the past two years, with his behavior escalating in recent times. Authorities said Sahu, a resident of a nearby village, was taken into custody on Saturday and is being interrogated in connection with the case.

The family of the teenager recounted the harrowing moments leading up to the incident. The mother of the student said that the family was asleep when they were awakened by the screams of their daughter. “She was studying in her room when she received a phone call. When all of us were asleep, my daughter took the extreme step. We found her in flames when we rushed to her room after hearing her screams and immediately took her to the hospital,” the mother said.

Police have begun a detailed inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the self-immolation. Officers have inspected the residence where the incident occurred and recorded statements from family members, neighbors, and other witnesses. According to SP Kaur, the authorities will take a formal statement from the survivor depending on her medical condition, as her injuries are severe and require intensive care.

This case is part of a broader pattern of tragic self-immolation incidents involving women in Odisha over the past few months, revealing the complex interplay of personal despair, societal pressures, and systemic failures. Since July 12, at least seven women, including two minors, have attempted self-immolation or died as a result of setting themselves on fire, indicating a deeply concerning trend in the state.

The first of these recent cases occurred on July 12, when a 20-year-old student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous Collegein Balasore district set herself on fire on the college campus. The young woman’s act of self-immolation was reportedly triggered by inaction on the part of authorities regarding her sexual harassment complaint against a senior faculty member, a head of the department. Despite being rushed to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, she succumbed to her injuries two days later, marking one of the earliest cases in this alarming series.

Just a week later, on July 19, a 15-year-old girl in Puri district attempted self-immolation. She sustained severe burn injuries and was subsequently admitted to AIIMS Delhi. Police investigations concluded that the act was a suicide driven by mental stress, reflecting the vulnerability of minors in situations of extreme psychological pressure.

On August 6, a 19-year-old college student in Kendrapara district set herself on fire after her ex-boyfriend threatened to leak intimate photographs online. This case highlighted the growing dangers posed by cyber harassment and privacy violations, which have increasingly contributed to mental distress among young people. The ex-boyfriend was later arrested for abetment of suicide, indicating the legal consequences for individuals whose actions drive others to extreme steps.

Another incident occurred on August 10, when a 35-year-old woman in Dhenkanal district sustained over 50 percent burn injuries in an attempt to end her life. Police reports suggested that the woman’s self-immolation was motivated by financial stress, as her family struggled to repay loans. She survived but required extensive medical treatment and counseling.

The Sundargarh incident, while unique in its circumstances, is intertwined with these previous cases by the common threads of harassment, personal disputes, and extreme distress. Police officials stress that addressing such incidents requires not only immediate legal action against the accused but also proactive measures for mental health support, counseling, and awareness campaigns to educate vulnerable individuals about alternatives to self-harm.

The arrested individual, Nilesh Sahu, is reportedly being interrogated to understand the extent of his involvement in harassing the teenager. Authorities are looking into whether there were repeated patterns of harassment and whether any other individuals might be complicit or involved in instigating or encouraging the act. According to the Superintendent of Police, all legal options are being explored to ensure the accused is appropriately held accountable under Indian law.

Experts on social issues and mental health have emphasized that self-immolation is often a cry for help, reflecting unaddressed grievances, emotional distress, and lack of support structures. “Many of these young women feel trapped in situations where they see no alternative, particularly when facing harassment or threats from known individuals,” said a mental health professional working in Odisha. “Community intervention, counseling services, and a responsive legal system are crucial to preventing these tragedies.”

This incident has sparked concern among residents and authorities in Sundargarh and across Odisha. Many fear that the increasing frequency of such cases represents a systemic failure to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly young women, from harassment and societal pressures. Local administration and police departments are being urged to increase awareness, strengthen community surveillance, and provide helplines and mental health support to at-risk individuals.

In addition to law enforcement measures, social workers are calling for education campaigns in colleges and communities to inform students about their rights, avenues for reporting harassment, and access to support networks. “Students must feel safe to report harassment or threats without fear of retaliation,” said a local NGO worker. “The state and educational institutions need to ensure protective measures are in place, from strict action against offenders to counseling services for students.”

The incident also raises broader questions about the psychological impact of prolonged harassment and social pressures on young individuals in Odisha. Families, educators, and local authorities are being encouraged to take a proactive role in identifying early signs of distress and intervening before situations escalate to life-threatening acts.

Authorities have also pointed out that rapid action in cases of harassment, cyber threats, and personal disputes is essential. “Delay in addressing grievances, whether it is harassment complaints or threats made to young individuals, can have catastrophic consequences,” said SP Amritpal Kaur. “It is imperative that victims feel heard and protected immediately to prevent tragedies such as this.”

While the young student remains in a critical condition at Ispat General Hospital, her family, local authorities, and mental health professionals are united in the hope that she survives. Doctors are reportedly using advanced burn treatment and intensive care protocols, but the severity of her injuries—over 90 percent burns—makes her recovery extremely challenging.

This tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the growing mental health and safety crisis among women in Odisha, particularly young students and minors. It underscores the urgent need for integrated interventions, combining legal action, counseling, community support, and awareness campaigns to ensure that young individuals do not feel compelled to resort to extreme measures to escape harassment, abuse, or societal pressures.

As the investigation continues, authorities have vowed to ensure that Nilesh Sahu is held accountable while also examining systemic gaps that allowed the harassment to persist for years. The hope is that heightened attention, legal accountability, and community support can prevent future incidents and provide at-risk individuals with the help they need before it is too late.

This self-immolation case is not just a single incident but part of a worrying pattern of self-harm among women in Odisha, reflecting a combination of personal, societal, and systemic failures. Experts urge the state government, educational institutions, and civil society to work together to create protective environments, establish rapid-response mechanisms, and strengthen mental health infrastructure to protect the lives and well-being of vulnerable women across the state.