MATTANNUR: A mother and child died after their body caught fire in their bedroom. Nishad's wife K Jijina (24) of Nimisha Nivas in Kanad and daughter Anvika (4) died at a hospital. Nishad is in Saudi Arabia.

The family saw fire at around 6.30 am yesterday when they woke up to the baby's screams and smashed the bedroom window glass. Neighbors rushed the two to the hospital after breaking the locked door. Both were shifted from Kannur AKG Hospital to Pariyaram Govt Medical College Hospital but died at noon.

The clothes in the bedroom closet were piled high on the bed. The bed and clothes were partially destroyed by the fire. Nishad's father Purushothaman was burnt in the leg while trying to save the burnt baby. Nishad, who works as a mechanic in Saudi Arabia, came home two years ago and returned overseas.

Nishad and Jijina married six years ago. The deceased Jijina is the daughter of Rajeev from Kummanam and Prasanna. She has two sisters. Police led by Mattannur CI KK Biju carried out an inspection in the house. The forensic department collected evidence. The bodies will be cremated today after postmortem.