The woman survived with burns to her face and hands.

A woman who was allegedly raped and set on fire managed to kill her attacker by dragging him into the fire, police in India say.

The 35-year-old mother told authorities that the man attacked her inside her home, north of Kolkata in India's east.

"Then he poured kerosene on her body and set her on fire," police officer Sajal Kanti Biswas said, according to AFP.

But the woman fought back, grabbing the man and pulling him into the flames. Her neighbours rushed to the house after noticing the smoke, and discovered both the woman and her alleged rapist on fire and a jar of kerosene in a room.

They were taken to a local hospital before being transferred to Malda Medical College and Hospital.

The woman survived with burns to her face and hands and is still receiving treatment, Times of India reported.

However her alleged rapists died of his injuries on Tuesday morning (local time).

Newshub.