Four children sustain severe burns after fellow student throws paint thinner, lights match in Odisha school

At least four students of a government high-school in Odisha’s Rayagada district sustained severe burn injuries after a fellow student threw thinner used in painting material and lit a match, said officials. As per police, three students aged 12 are out of danger while the condition of one, aged 10, is said to be critical and the student is currently undergoing treatment at the Rayagada district headquarters hospital.

Police said the incident occurred on Monday at around 3 pm, when the injured students had gone towards the toilets when thinner was thrown at them and the match was lit. Police said they are looking into the incident and discussing with the school authorities about the circumstances that led to it.

Hearing the screams of the injured students, teachers and other members of the school staff rushed to spot and immediately took them to a nearby hospital. According to the mother of one of the injured students, the thinner was allegedly thrown by another student whose father works at the school.