Birthday boy burns house after tiff over pocket money in Andhra Pradesh

VIJAYAWADA: In a shocking incident, parents of a 19-year-old boy suffered burn injuries after their son, in a fit of anger, poured petrol on burning firewood after a tiff over pocket money. The incident happened at SC/BC colony in Markapur town of Prakasam district on Thursday. The injured have been identified as Balaiah, a daily wage labourer, and his wife Lakshmi.
The family had gone out for lunch on Thursday afternoon to celebrate their son Prasad’s birthday. After they returned home, Prasad, a first year BTech student, asked his father for some cash to celebrate his birthday with his friends. The father’s reluctance to give money resulted in a heated argument between them. Prasad, who was holding a bottle of petrol to pour it in his bike, suddenly threw the bottle on the burning firewood, resulting in a blaze that soon engulfed the house, inflicting severe burn injuries on his parents.
Upon being alerted by neighbours, police reached the spot and rushed them to a local government hospital, from where they have been shifted to a private hospital for better treatment. Doctors said both parents are out of danger but have suffered burn injuries that may require skin grafting. Markapur police have registered a case. Further investigation is on.