A 45-year-old woman near Pollachi was reportedly set on fire by her second husband after a verbal quarrel at their residence on Saturday.

According to sources, the victim, P. Jakkamma and her husband S. Pethan (50) were living at Vettaikaranpudhur for more than 14 years. They have a 14-year-old son named Karthikeyan. Both Jakkamma and Pethavan are estranged from their first spouses and have been living together. But the couple quarrelled frequently with each other over domestic issues.

After yet another routine fight on Friday night, the couple went to sleep. But Pethavan had reportedly woken up around 3.00 am on Saturday, poured kerosene on Jakkamma and set her ablaze. She was rescued by the neighbours and has been admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital with 80 percent burn injuries.

The Valparai sub-division Police have registered a case against Pethavan and are searching for him now.