NAMAKKAL: A woman set her husband and his paramour ablaze in a village in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday night.

The duo, who suffered more than 60% burn injuries, underwent a treatment at a government hospital in Salem.

The victims have been identified as P Raja (35), a farmer in Yelurpatty, and S Pushpavathi (29) of the same village.

Police said Raja had married Kala (30) a few years ago and had two children. Later, he developed an illicit affair with Pushpavathi. “Kala recently came to know about his affair with Pushpavathi. She quarrelled with him over the issue very frequently,” they said.

On Sunday night, Raja went to Pushpavathi’s house and spent time with her. Kala reached there after sometime. She locked the main door of the house from outside.

Through the window, she poured kerosene into the room where Raja and Pushpavathi were sleeping and threw a lit matchstick into it. Soon fire spread in the room.

Neighbours rushed to the house hearing the duo’s cries and rescued them. Raja and Pushpavathi were first admitted to Government Hospital in Namakkal. Later, they were referred to Government Super Speciality Hospital in Salem.

“Both of them received more than 60% burn injuries. They are in a critical condition,” doctors treating them said.

The Namakkal police registered a case and launched a search for Kala, who was absconding.