A 17-year-old girl who was set on fire by a man at Kadammanitta in Pathanamthitta district, succumbed to her injuries at Ganga Hospital in Coimbatore on Saturday morning. The hospital confirmed the death to The News Minute.
Sharika was admitted to the Kottayam Medical College after she was attacked by Sajil on July 14.
Sharika, in her statement to the police, had said that her family had rejected Sajil’s proposal of marriage since she was a minor. Following this, he had asked Sharika to elope. When she refused, an enraged Sajil then returned when she was alone at home and poured petrol on her and set her ablaze. Sharika suffered 80% burns and was rushed to the Kottayam Medical College.
However, Chennai-based International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC) had facilitated her shift to Ganga Hospital in Coimbatore for better treatment.
Sharika’s death also reveals the gap in treatment for burn victims in Kerala.
“This case is a reflection of the urgent need for appropriate public health systems to offer immediate support and treatment to victims of burns. Ideally, every district hospital should have a burns ward that can provide state-of-the-art systems to save victims. State governments should be an active stakeholder in building integrated response systems that ensure speedy multi-agency interventions,” said Dr Prasanna Gettu of PCVC.
“The first few days play a crucial role. If these days are lost in the process of transferring the patient, her life is placed at utmost risk,” she added.
The accused, who is living in Kadamanita, was arrested the day after the crime. Aranmula police said that the girl's death occurred at 9.45 am and a team of police personnel had left for Coimbatore for the follow-up procedures.