Bhubaneswar: A cook of a primary school sustained severe burn injuries when her saree caught fire while she was busy cooking on the school premises in Hatibandha village under Anandapur block in Keonjhar district.
According to reports, Tapoi Pradhan (45) was preparing lunch for school students as part of the mid-day meal (MDM) scheme when the mishap occurred. Other cooks had gone to the village market to buy groceries during the mishap.
However, school students quickly responded by pouring water on her.
Locals rushed her to Anandapur Hospital for treatment, and she was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack as her condition deteriorated.
Meanwhile, villagers have demanded government aid for the burn victim, who is reportedly from a vulnerable background.
