Odisha bandh: Student dies after self-immolation; protests erupt, roads blocked
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Shops closed and transport services were affected in various regions, including Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj. The markets in Bhadrak remained non-operational with disrupted public transport.
The protest resulted in substantial traffic congestion on the Chennai-Kolkata Highway, with numerous vehicles stranded. Bus operations were affected throughout various regions of the state.
The Congress, alongside other opposition groups including the All India Forward Bloc, organised the bandh.
They held the state government accountable for not addressing the student's appeals for assistance.
The demonstrators sought a thorough investigation and requested enhanced security measures for women's safety in the state.
Previously, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had organised a 'Balasore Bandh' to protest against the Odisha government. BJD leader and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condemned the state government and police regarding the alleged force used against BJD protesters involved in the case.
On Tuesday, eight opposition parties, including Congress, collectively announced an 'Odisha Bandh' on July 17, seeking the State Higher Education Minister's resignation and a judicial inquiry into the incident.
The student had reportedly experienced continuous sexual harassment from the Head of Department (HoD) at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore. Despite submitting a formal complaint and repeatedly requesting assistance from the college principal, her grievances remained unattended, resulting in her self-immolation on campus last Saturday.
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She received initial treatment at Balasore district hospital before being transferred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she succumbed to her injuries on Monday, as confirmed by hospital officials.
Subsequently, authorities arrested the college's HoD, Samira Kumar Sahu, and Principal, Dilip Ghose, in relation to the incident.
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Singh cited source apportionment studies conducted in various cities under NCAP, which revealed that road dust and construction activities contribute 40 to 50 per cent of PM10 concentrations in many urban areas. 'Accordingly, cities have prioritised road improvement, traffic decongestion, junction redesign and greening of open spaces," he said. The minister also said that efforts to curb stubble burning, a major contributor to seasonal air pollution in north India, are underway. 'CPCB has issued guidelines for providing financial support to set up paddy straw-based pelletisation and torrefaction plants. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed thermal power plants within 300 km of Delhi to co-fire 5 to 10 per cent biomass with coal. Similar directions apply to captive power plants in industrial units located in NCR," Singh said. Further, he said that performance-based grants are being released to urban local bodies in the 130 identified cities under NCAP through both the Central Sector Scheme 'Control of Pollution' and the 15th Finance Commission's air quality grants. 'As on July 20, 2025, a total of Rs 13,036.52 crore has been released to these cities since 2019-20 for implementing various pollution control measures. Of this, Rs 9,209.44 crore has already been utilised by the urban local bodies," the minister added. PTI GVS DIV DIV (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 18:45 IST News agency-feeds Swiss firms pollution rankings misleading: Govt tells Parliament Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. 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