Bhubaneswar, Nov 27: A cook at a primary school in Hatibandha village under Anandapur block in Keonjhar district sustained critical burn injuries in a tragic accident on the school premises. The incident occurred when the saree of 45-year-old Tapoi Pradhan caught fire while she was preparing lunch for students under the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme. At the time of the mishap, the other cooks had gone to the local market to procure groceries, leaving Tapoi alone in the kitchen area.

According to reports, as soon as the flames engulfed her saree, nearby school students acted swiftly and poured water on her in an attempt to douse the fire. Their prompt response helped prevent the situation from worsening further.

Following the incident, villagers rushed Tapoi to the Anandapur Hospital for immediate medical attention. However, as her condition deteriorated due to the severity of the burns, she was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for advanced treatment.

The unfortunate incident has sparked concern and sympathy in the locality. Villagers have urged the government to extend financial assistance to Tapoi, who hails from a vulnerable and economically weaker background. They emphasized the need for stronger safety measures in school kitchens to prevent similar accidents in the future.

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