Chennai: A couple's dangerous bid to pour paint thinner on termites, set them on fire and burn them in their home resulted in the death of a 13-year-old daughter in Pallavaram on Thursday. The fire set off by the couple, raged out of control and trapped their daughter.


According to a report on Times of India, the couple Hussain, Aisha and their daughter Fathima stayed at a house in Quaid-e-Millath Nagar in Anakaputhur of Pallavaram. The couple frequently faced termite infestations; earlier, they splashed kerosene on the termite. The infestations reduced for a while but it soon returned. Therefore, Hussain, who is a painter, chose to use thinner on them. 


The family locked the wooden door of the house that attracted the termites and then used fire to burn the termites. However, the fire and smoke soon spread across the house but the family got trapped since the door was locked. They immediately called the neighbours for their help but the neighbours could not enter the house due to the latched door.


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The neighbours then broke open the door and pulled out the three family members. Two fire tenders were rushed to the place and the fire was put out. 


The three members including Fathima who sustained 60% burns were rushed to Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital but Fathima died in a few hours. The couple who sustained minor injuries is currently receiving treatment. 


All the belongings of the family were also reduced to ashes. 


The Shankar Nagar police have registered a case and the probe is on.