Kathmandu/Siraha, April 26 A 20-year-old woman, who was allegedly set on fire by her husband and mother-in-law at their home in Kanchanpur Municipality of Siraha, died today in the course of treatment at Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital, Sankhu. Kanchan, who was found by the neighbors with severe burn-injuries in her house yard at 9:00 am yesterday, was rescued and rushed to Mirchaiya-based Mangalam Health Care Centre. Deputy Superintendent of  Police Madhavraj Kharel said the incident appeared suspicious as neighbours’ statements contradicted with that of the victim. Police said they were launching a manhunt for her absconding husband, Bechu. Kanchan Mandal was referred to the hospital from Mangalam Hospital, Mirchaiya, Siraha. According to SKMH, Mandal succumbed to third-degree burn injury at around 6:00 pm, three hours after being admitted to the hospital. Medical Director and Plastic Surgeon at  SKMH, Dr Jaswan Shakya had earlier told THT that there were no chances of her survival as her whole body except some portions of her face and head had been burnt. “Kanchan was given saline water while on the way to Kathmandu, but that was not enough. Deep burns make the skin so tight that the patient feels difficult to breathe. We tried to ease her breathing, but in vain,” he said. According to the District Police Office, Siraha,  the mother of a two-year-old daughter was burnt alive in her house yard at Mandal Tole. The victim, when she could speak, had told police that she was doused with kerosene and set ablaze by her husband Bechu Mandal and mother-in-law Suraji Devi Mandal.  Locals and neighbours, however, told police at the incident site that Kanchan had set herself on fire. The conflicting statements by the victim and neighbours have prompted police to launch an intensive investigation into the incident. Kanchan had been living with her mother-in-law and daughter, Radha, in her house. She was on good terms with her mother-in-law and husband. “The incident seems suspicious. We are yet to figure out whether the incident was a suicide or a murder,” said DSP Kharel. “We are looking for Bechu. We’ll reach a conclusion after interrogating him,” he added. The victim’s mother-in-law, who collapsed on seeing Kanchan on fire, is receiving treatment at the local Mangalam Hospital. “We’ll interrogate her once she regains consciousness,” DSP Kharel stated. “In our country, only patients with up to 40 per cent burn injuries have chances of survival. Hospitals require special Intensive Care Unit with maintained temperature for treatment of high-risk patients, which we lack,” Dr Shakya said.  Treatment of Kanchan started nearly 19 hours after she suffered burn injury. It took around eight hours to rush her to Kathmandu from Dharan following primary medical care.