A 30-year-old woman, M. Leelavathi, committed self-immolation along with her one-year-old child, Roopavathi, at her residence in T. Arasapatti on Thursday.
The woman, mother of four children, was upset over chronic stomach pain, and took the extreme step when elders in the house were away. Leelavathi had tried to douse two of her children with kerosene. However, the boy had run away from the spot. The woman then set herself afire by holding her daughter. Both sustained severe burn injuries. They were rushed to Tirumangalam Government Hospital, from where they were referred to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. While the child succumbed to burns on the way to the hospital, Leelavathi failed to respond to treatment at GRH. The woman was married off to her maternal uncle, Murugan, who was a driver with Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation. Kalligudi police are investigating.
People with suicidal tendency could get counselling from professionals on State Government helpline 104.
