Nabarangpur school student gets treatment for burn injuries at MKCG hospital. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, July 25: The incident of Class X student Kanakdei Bhatra, 16, suffering burn injuries at her home in Nabarangpur’s Padahandi village on Thursday remains shrouded in mystery as the girl had stopped going to school for the past 10 days for not being able to pay her annual fees.

However, her poor tribal parents claimed that the accident occurred while making tea and had nothing to do with the payment of annual school fees. They said that Kanakdei had been assured that the school fee of Rs 148 would be arranged before the due date of July 31.

Preliminary inquiries have revealed that Kanakdei, who belongs to a very poor scheduled tribe (ST) family, did not have half of the textbooks and note books.

Kanakdei’s father Kesab Bhatra, 45, of Mahuraguda village, works as a labourer to maintain his family consisting of his wife Budhubari, 40, daughter Kanakdei and 12-year-old son Shyam, a Class VII student in Mahuraguda UP School. Kesab’s elder daughter Lalita got married three years ago.

“On Thursday morning, Kanakdei asked us for money to pay her school fee and buy note books. As we did not have the money, we assured her to arrange it later,” said Kesab at the MKCG Hospital, where his daughter is undergoing treatment.

To clear the air of mystery surrounding the incident, Kesab said: “The accident occurred on Thursday morning when Kanakdei was preparing tea. Her dress caught fire from a lamp. My wife and Lalita were present in the house when the incident happened. Budhubari rushed towards her daughter and poured water on her.”

“I was working in the field when I got the news. I rushed home and took her to the Nabarangpur district headquarters hospital. Later, she was shifted to Koraput district headquarters hospital and from there to MKCG at 4.30am,” he said.

Ashok Kumar Behera, superintendent of MKCG Hospital, said that Kanakdei had sustained 95 per cent burn injuries. “Her condition is critical. Such a high intensity of burn generally damages respiratory tracks, lungs and other vital parts of the body. We have formed a team of doctors consisting of surgeons and plastic surgery experts to treat her.

“She is being treated under the Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF) and will receive free treatment here,” Behera said.

Subash Chandra Charchi, headmaster of Ghataguda Upgraded High School, admitted that students of Class IX and X were told to deposit Rs 148 as school fees by July 31.

“This system was introduced for the first time by the government this year. This the first time that the students had been asked to pay annual fees,” Subash said.

Asked about different welfare schemes to encourage girl students to pursue education, he said: “Students of Class X are not entitled to get free school uniform. Only students of classes I-VIII are entitled to get free school uniform. The victim has received Rs 2,100 pre-matric scholarship for SC/ ST students. She will be getting a free bicycle in a few months time,” he said.