Woman, daughter set themselves ablaze, die

BENGALURU:  A woman and her mentally challenged daughter died after they allegedly set themselves ablaze at their residence in Magadi Road on Sunday morning. Rangamma, in her mid-60s, and her daughter Thimmamma (35) were staying in 12th Cross at a house belonging to Rangamma’s brother Rangaswamy.On Sunday, between 9.30 am and 10 am, the mother and daughter duo doused themselves with kerosene and set themselves ablaze. Pallavi, a neighbouring woman staying on the first floor of the same building, heard screams and saw flames rising until the level of her house.

Several neighbours thought the fire was caused by a cylinder blast and evacuated their own homes. They subsequently informed Rangaswamy, who lived a few houses away on the same street. The crowd then broke open the door to find both Rangamma and Thimmamma in flames. They were rushed to Victoria Hospital, but the mother-daughter duo could not be saved, the police said, adding the women probably took the extreme step due to abject poverty. However, neighbours say that may not be the case.

Anil, one of the victims’ neighbours, said Rangamma would often give small loans to others in the locality, and food was always sent to them from the house of Rangaswamy, who is in the tours and travels business.Another neighbour Monica said the mother-daughter duo celebrated every festival. However, for the past one week, Rangamma and Thimmamma had refrained from speaking to anyone. KP Agrahara police have registered a case.