Christopher and his wife, Mary, who were returning on scooter after attending a church festival in their neighbourhood, were allegedly stopped near their house by their neighbour Williams Correya and set ablaze after throwing petrol over them on Friday (July 18, 2025) around 8 p.m
| Photo Credit: special arrangement
A man who was allegedly set ablaze by his neighbour, who was later found hanging in his house, in Kochi city in Kerala remains serious as he continues to undergo treatment in the intensive care unit of a private hospital with 60% burns, while his wife’s condition remains stable.
Christopher, 54, and his wife Mary, 50, of Golden Street Road in Vaduthala, who were returning on scooter after attending a church festival in their neighbourhood, were allegedly stopped near their house by their neighbour Williams Correya, 52, and set ablaze after throwing petrol over them on Friday (July 18, 2025) around 8 p.m. Williams fled the scene immediately thereafter. Later, the police found him hanging inside his house.
The couple were rushed to a nearby hospital where they remain admitted. According to hospital sources, Christopher remains critical with severe burns to his hands, chest and thighs. “He will have to undergo surgery. Nothing can be said about his condition before 24 hours. His wife though is relatively stable and remains admitted in the ward,” said sources. The couple was rushed to the hospital on Friday at 9.48 p.m.
It is learnt that neighbours had a long running feud culminating in the gruesome incident. The couple, reportedly, had lodged a police complaint against Williams who had allegedly thrown waste into the couple’s compound. Following this, Christopher had mounted a CCTV camera in his property and this seems to have turned Williams more furious.
The Ernakulam Town North police have registered a case.
(Suicide Prevention Helpline: Disha – 1056, 0471-2552056)
Published – July 19, 2025 10:23 am IST
