Thanjavur: A woman died after she set herself ablaze following a domestic quarrel in Poosarikadu village in Peravurani taluk last night, while her husband who attempted to rescue her also died.

Gnanasekaran, 55, reportedly had no permanent income. This led to frequent quarrels between him and his wife Lakshmi, 50. After a quarrel along the same lines between the couple last night, neighbours intervened and took Gnanasekaran out. Then, Lakshmi locked herself in the house, poured kerosene on her body and set herself ablaze.

Neighbours quickly swung into action and broke open the door. Lakshmi, who was enveloped in flames, ran out of the house screaming and in the process of trying to put out the fire and rescue her, Gnanasekaran too suffered severe burns. Lakshmi was charred to death on the spot while her husband died on the way to the Medical College Hospital in Thanjavur.

Based on a complaint by their daughter Vanitha, Peravurani police have registered a case and further investigation is on.