Providing details, the Katargam police said Bhavna Amrut Patel (30) after setting herself on fire, rolled over to the corner of the room, where her son Hitesh was sleeping. The cradle in which the boy was sleeping caught fire, causing him severe burn injuries, the police added.

Noticing smoke coming out of the house, the neighbours tried to open the door which was bolted from inside. They then broke it open and found both the mother and son on fire. Both were rushed to the Surabhi hospital and then to Maskati hospital, where the mother was declared dead.

According to the police, Patel was married for the past 11 years and had two sons, Kiran (8) and Hitesh (2). But Kiran and his father were out of the house when the incident took place. Neighbours are reported to have told the police that the family's economic condition had deteriorated of late. And although the victim's husband was employed in a textile unit, the family was constantly hard on money.