In a tragic incident in Odisha’s Sundargarh district, an 18-year-old tribal college student died on Monday morning after setting herself on fire late Friday, following alleged harassment by a 24-year-old stalker. The teenager had suffered severe burn injuries, covering 92% of her body, and was admitted to a hospital in Rourkela, where she succumbed to multiple organ failures triggered by the burns.

The Incident

According to Sundargarh Police Superintendent Amritpal Kaur, the teenager set herself ablaze at her home after a conversation with a male friend. Police reports indicate that the 24-year-old accused, a porter, had been harassing and stalking her for the past two years, with the harassment intensifying in recent days. She had reportedly faced further harassment on a passenger bus shortly before the incident.

The teenager’s mother recounted the horrific moment: “When we woke up to her screams, we found her in flames and rushed her to the hospital.” Despite urgent medical care, including critical interventions, the young woman could not survive the injuries she sustained.

Medical Response

Doctors at the Rourkela hospital said that her condition was critical from the start due to extensive burns and resulting multiple organ failures. On Sunday, state health minister Mukesh Mahaling mentioned that the government had plans to airlift her to Bhubaneswar or Delhi for advanced treatment once her condition stabilized. Unfortunately, she passed away before such measures could be implemented.

Pattern of Similar Incidents

This case is not isolated in Odisha. There have been several instances of young women attempting self-immolation over harassment or related social pressures:

• July 2025: A 20-year-old student in Balasore died two days after setting herself on fire on campus, citing inaction on her sexual harassment complaint against a department head.
• August 2, 2025: A 15-year-old girl from Puri succumbed to injuries after setting herself on fire; police ruled it a suicide driven by mental stress.
• August 6, 2025: A 19-year-old student in Kendrapara immolated herself following threats from an ex-boyfriend to leak intimate photos online.
• August 10, 2025: A 35-year-old woman in Dhenkanal attempted self-immolation over her family’s financial struggles, sustaining over 50% burn injuries.

These repeated incidents highlight deep-rooted social and systemic challenges, including harassment, inadequate legal redress, mental health struggles, and lack of timely intervention.

Police Investigation

Authorities have launched a preliminary investigation into the case. While the immediate focus is on the 24-year-old accused stalker, police are also examining whether any negligence or failures by third parties contributed to the tragedy. The case is being treated as part of a broader effort to address stalking, harassment, and threats that lead to extreme responses by victims.

Social and Governmental Response

The incident has sparked public outrage and renewed calls for:

• Stricter enforcement of anti-stalking and harassment laws
• Improved access to mental health support for vulnerable youth
• Faster governmental action on harassment complaints to prevent victims from resorting to self-harm

State authorities and local NGOs are also expected to monitor and support the teenager’s family during this period of grief. The tragic death underscores the urgent need for comprehensive protective measures for women, particularly students and young adults in vulnerable situations.

This incident serves as a grim reminder of the mental and emotional toll that prolonged harassment and stalking can inflict, and the critical importance of rapid intervention and community support to prevent such irreversible tragedies.