Elderly man ends life setting ablaze

Bhimavaram: A 70-year-old man committed suicide by setting himself ablaze at his residence in Bhimavaram town in West Godavari district on Wednesday. According to police, Tatavarti Suryanarayana (70) was living in a house near Gunupudi Bhimeswara Swamy temple.

His wife died 15 years ago, and he was staying alone in the house. He had two sons and a daughter. As they were married and living away from him, he was living in the house alone and eking out livelihood by running a grocery shop at his own house besides getting rents on the leased shops.  The local people said that he was depressed and asked Rs 100 from his neighbours on Wednesday.

Later, he purchased petrol and went into the house and doused his body with petrol set himself ablaze.  Observing flames from the window of the 3rd floor, the local people informed the police. In turn, police rushed to the spot immediately.

Before they came to the spot, fire tenders reached and controlled the flames. CI Desimsetty Venkateswara Rao enquired the neighbours about the incident. Police registered suspicious death case and took up investigation.