Died by setting oneself on fire as the heat became a problem

No one would have imagined that the unbearable intense heat and a minor dispute over a fan's breeze would ultimately turn a mother's life to ashes.

Thirty-four-year-old Nishanthi Ruwani, who lived in a rented house in Oliyammulla, Wattala, set herself on fire and left this world as the unfortunate result of such a momentary fit of rage escalating within a family. Her life, shared with her husband and mother-in-law as a mother of two children, ended in tragedy in an instant.

One night recently, Nishanthi's elder daughter went to sleep in the room where her grandmother, her husband's mother, was. However, even amidst the extreme heat prevailing these days, Nishanthi could not bear to see her grandmother sleeping with the fan turned completely towards herself. She pleaded with her husband to turn the fan so that her small daughter, who was sweating and sleeping uncomfortably, would also get some breeze.

However, her reasonable plea of maternal affection fell on deaf ears. His wife's incessant insistence ultimately brought him intense anger. The result was that he brutally assaulted his wife. Shocked and deeply enraged by the assault she received for her request for the child, she immediately ran to the kitchen, poured kerosene on her body, and set herself on fire. Even amidst the burning pain, she screamed that no one should come near to save her.

While his wife was engulfed in flames, the husband tried to save her, but Nishanthi, who was already disillusioned with everything, pushed him aside. Neighbors, who rushed over upon hearing the screams, quickly acted, poured water to extinguish the fire, and arranged for both the injured couple to be hospitalized. However, by then, it was too late. That helpless mother, who had suffered severe burn injuries, closed her eyes forever.

The inquest into this matter was held yesterday (08) before Colombo City Inquirer into Sudden Deaths, Mr. Mohamed Ashraf Rumi, where the mother and mother-in-law of the deceased woman gave evidence. Since the husband, who sustained burn injuries while attempting to save his wife, is still hospitalized and receiving treatment, it was decided to postpone his testimony until May 11th. Wattala Police are conducting further investigations into this matter.

This tragedy, which arose from a fan's breeze and nature's heat, tells us how destructive momentary anger in the human mind can be. If there had been patience for just one moment, those small children would not have lost their mother's warmth even today.