Painful death of 85 year old man by burning

Chennai: An 85-year-old man burnt to death when his bed caught fire when he tried to light a cigarette while resting in bed in Selaiyur on Sunday night.

The deceased, Muniyan of Selaiyur, was a retired electrician who lived with his wife Vijayalakshmi (78).

Muniyan had broken his leg in an accident a few days ago and doctors had advised him to take complete rest.

On Sunday night, Muniyan, lying on the bed, took a matchbox and tried to light a cigarette, but at the same time the matchstick fell on the foam bed and caught fire.

Police said Muniyan was helpless and could not move away and screamed for help.

Soon after hearing his screams, his wife Vijayalakshmi reached his room and extinguished the fire with the help of neighbours, Muniyan was taken to Chromepet GH but doctors there declared him brought dead.

Selaiyur police reached the spot and sent the body for post-mortem and have registered a case and further investigation is underway.