The police suspect it to be a case of human sacrifice, as flowers and gulal were found smeared on the identified body.

According to Sub-Inspector P N Patel, who is investigating the case, some residents of the Kasak Garnala area found the body near the tracks in the morning.

“There were burns and cut marks all over the body. A clump of hair was missing from the head, while the hands were broken too. Gulal was smeared on the body and there were flowers too, indicating that some kind of ritual was performed before or after death. We are awaiting the forensic report,” said Patel.

Inspector M S Rana of Bharuch A Division police visited the spot after the body was recovered.

“If the forensic report states that the rituals were performed before her death, then it is a case of murder. As of now, we have only lodged a case of accidental death.”

It is not the first time that such an incident has occurred in the district, said Rana, adding: “Earlier around February, a woman’s body was recovered from Ankleshwar, which was a case of human sacrifice. But the victim’s identity could not be ascertained till date, as no missing complaint was filed from anywhere.”

The Bharuch police said photograph of the girl has been circulated in all the main areas of the city including various cremation grounds.