Three minors were killed after a 36-year-old woman set herself on fire along with her children in Khurd village under Parsan Outpost of Giridih on Tuesday morning.

The woman, who sustained severe burn injuries, is battling for her life at the community health centre in Rajdhanwar.

Following the incident, a police team rushed to the spot to assess the situation. The woman, Sonia Devi, has been unable to give any statement related to the incident. Her husband, Ravider Yadav, is being inquired by police officials.

“Why Sonia took such a harsh recourse is not known at the moment,” said Giridih SP Surender Kumar Jha.

A police officer said that on the day of the incident, Sonia locked herself inside her house and put her five-year-old daughter Suman Kumari and six-months-old son in a large box. Before the children could understand anything, she set the box on fire using kerosene. Following this, she covered herself and her eight-year-old son with a blanket and lit it on fire.

Neighbours have suggested family dispute to be the reason behind the incident.

A police investigation is underway.