Saraswati Puja celebration took a horrific turn at Belonia Vidyapitha HS (+2) School on Tuesday as one of the students got severe burn injuries while distributing Prasad.
The victim is identified as Jhuma Dey – a class XI student. According to sources, like other students of the school, Jhuma went to the school to participate in the puja celebrations. While she was distributing Prasad after the puja, she caught fire from the Pradip of the Puja Mandap.
She was immediately taken to Belonia Hospital and was referred to the GB Hospital with serious burn injuries.
Local sources said, she wore a silk-like synthetic saree. As a result, fire spread too quickly and even before other students and teachers could react, flames engulfed her and she sustained severe burn injuries.
Today, MP Pratima Bhoumik went to GB Hospital and inquired about her health. In a tweet, Bhoumik said, the student received 87 per cent injuries.
The MP also pointed out that fire spread quickly as Jhuma was wearing a ‘silk’ saree. Pratima Bhoumik also interacted with the relatives of Jhuma and assured assistance in her treatment. State Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath also went to the GB Hospital and assured her supports.
Meanwhile, local sources said, family members of Jhuma Deb are angry with the School authority. Even as the School authority collected Rs 1 lakh for Jhuma’s treatment, family members, venting anger against the school authority, are reluctant to accept the financial assistance.