Debt-ridden man ends life by setting himself ablaze in Palghar

Palghar, Dec 7 (PTI) A 35-year-old debt-ridden man allegedly committed suicide by setting himself ablaze in Maharashtra's Palghar district shortly after midnight on Sunday, police said.

His wife and nephew also suffered burns while trying to put out the fire, they said.

The incident occurred at 12.40 am at Phulpada in the Virar area.

The deceased, identified as Akilesh Vishwakarma, ran a welding shop in the locality. As per preliminary information, he had been under depression lately due to financial issues and his debts, Virar police station's senior inspector LM Ture said.

The man allegedly doused himself in an inflammable substance and set himself afire in his house, he said.

His wife and nephew, who tried to save him, also suffered burn injuries. The wife sustained minor burns while the nephew was severely injured and is undergoing treatment at a local hospital, the official said.

After being alerted, fire personnel rushed to the spot and doused the blaze.

The body was sent to a government hospital for a postmortem and a case of accidental death was registered, the official said. PTI COR GK