Woman sets herself ablaze in North Paravur

KOCHI: A 38-year-old woman committed suicide after setting herself ablaze in front of her previous employer's house in Andippillykkavu near North Paravur on Monday.

The police identified her as Ambily, a resident of Madaplathuruth in Moothakunnam there.

The incident happened around 6 am in front of the house of Sudhi, a hotelier. He and his family heard a loud cry in the morning outside. When they came out, they saw Ambily lying on the ground with her body on fire.

Police said that she set herself on fire after pouring kerosene over her body.

Mr Sudhi, along with his neighbours, rushed her to Paravur Government Hospital. She was later shifted to the intensive care unit of Ernakulam Medical College Hospital as she had suffered severe burns. The hospital sources said that she succumbed to the injuries around 11.30 am.Her relatives told the police that she left her house as usual for her work at the hotel.

Police said Mr Sudhi had recently fired her from his hotel-cum-catering unit. Following this, she was working at another hotel in North Paravur.

"An investigation is underway to find out the exact reason behind her suicide. Mr Sudhi will be questioned as part of the investigation," said a police official.Ms Ambily's body has been handed over to kin after postmortem. She was a widow survived by a daughter, who is studying in class XII. The Paravur police registered a case of unnatural death.