From FM College in Balasore to the western heartland of Bargarh, Odisha is witnessing a disturbing series of burn incidents involving young women and girls.

In just about one month, four such cases have been reported, two minors and two young adults, each leaving behind unanswered questions and a growing sense of alarm among families, communities, and mental health experts.

Psychologists warn that a troubling cluster of burn incidents involving young women across Odisha may be driven more by acute psychological crisis and contagious behaviour than by isolated criminal acts.

Psychiatrists say the rapid succession of cases marks failures in early detection, emergency response, and community mental-health preparedness.

The “mental trap” and impulsivity

“Most of the time, victims face a mental trap. They are unable to think clearly and believe that it would be much easier to end this all. They try to reach for the nearest possible object to take their lives with and think that they can end this suffering,” said psychiatrist Dr. Samrat Kar, explaining the cognitive collapse that often precedes self-harm.

Dr. Kar emphasised that such acts are frequently impulsive rather than premeditated. In his view, family tensions, relationship conflicts and acute humiliation can trigger a sudden flood of emotional pain that narrows perception and decision-making.