Girl succumbs to burns in acid attack

After battling for life for nearly three days after being attacked by acid by a jilted youth in Tenali, 16-year old girl succumbed to burns at the Government General Hospital here on Sunday morning.

Hospital Superintendent D. Phanibhushan confirmed that her death at 8.15 a.m. in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The incident sent shock waves across the district with women organisations demanding that the accused be given capital punishment. This is the second death caused by five acid attacks recorded last year in the district.

Doctors treating the 16-year-old girl were sceptical over the chances of recovery as she sustained more than 75 per cent of burns.

After being treated at Amaravathi Institute of Medical Sciences, the girl was shifted to GGH on Friday evening, after her condition turned serious.

Dr. Phanibhushan told The Hindu that the death was caused by multi-organ failure. “The functioning of her kidneys was affected, resulting in acute tubular necrosis, toxic myocardial malfunctioning affecting heart. Her condition deteriorated even after she was put on peritonial dialysis,” he said.

The girl, the second among three siblings was studying Class 9 at Zilla Parisha High School at Venigandla village near Pedakakani. On the ill-fated Wednesday, she came home at Tenali where the family members work in agricultural fields. She was sleeping in her house, when an inebriated youth, Koppavaraupu Subba Rao, splashed acid on her face and body. The youth has been harassing the girl for the last two months and when the girl turned down his advances, he decided to take vengeance.

Police said that the youth had procured acid in Kanigiri in Prakasam district. He too sustained burn injuries while trying to escape.

Superintendent of Police Shankha Brata Bagchi said that cases under 302 IPC, murder would be booked against the boy and police would file a charge sheet soon. The accused, however, has not yet been arrested so far.