An upset man’s suicide threat took a turn for the worse when he accidentally set himself afire and died of burns.
His wife too died after suffering severe injuries trying to save him.
The police said, Arun Kumar (25) and Sathya (19), who got married three months ago, lived in a one-bedroom house on Nehru Street in Avvai Nagar of Choolaimedu.
Around 10.30 p.m. on Saturday, the couple had a heated argument over some family issues. An upset Kumar doused himself with kerosene and threatened to commit suicide. His wife Sathya begged him not to, but he struck a match anyway.
He held the lit matchstick at arm’s length not intending to set himself afire. However, a spark ignited and he was engulfed in flames. Sathya tried to save him but ended up getting severely burnt.
Hearing the commotion, the couple’s landlord, Harikrishnan, who resides on the ground floor rushed in and took the injured couple to Government Kilpauk Hospital.
Kumar died around 7 a.m. on Sunday and later, around 10.30 a.m., Sathya, too, succumbed to her burns.
Kumar worked in a private firm and Sathya was a first-year student in a private engineering college on Rajiv Gandhi Salai. Three months ago, the couple married without the consent of their parents at Vadapalani Murugan temple and were living in a house in Ashok Nagar. Two months ago, they rented the Choolaimedu house.
“The couple were arguing over the lack of cooperation from their families. Kumar doused himself with kerosene and struck the match not realising the damage it would cause,” said an officer who recorded Kumar’s statement before his death.
