SIVAGANGA : Suspected to have been upset with his family members for not caring for him, a 55-year-old man set his own house and wife on fire before immolating himself at Karaikudi early on Saturday. Their son, who attempted to save the couple from the inferno, also succumbed to burn injuries later in the day. The deceased were identified as A Thangaraj, Latha (48), and son T Naveen Kumar (32).
According to police sources, Thangaraj was reportedly upset with his family as he felt that they had been ignoring him for long. On Friday, an argument ensued between the couple. In the wee hours of Saturday, Thangaraj reportedly set his wife and the house on fire, before setting himself alight.
Around 2 am, Naveen woke up to the screams of his parents. Upon realising that the house was on fire, he woke up his wife Selvi and their one-year-old son and sent them out of the house, before returning to save his parents. However, he sustained nearly 80% burn injuries in the process.
Selvi and the neighbours alerted the police and fire and rescue services. After the blaze was doused, rescuers found Thangaraj and Latha’s bodies, and rushed Naveen to the Government Medical College Hospital in Sivaganga.