Woman scholar allegedly attempts to commit suicide by setting

A 25-year-old research scholar of the city-based University of Hyderabad suffered burns when she allegedly tried to commit suicide in the campus hostel by setting herself ablaze apparently due to "depression", police said today.

The incident occurred around 1 am today when the woman PhD student, a native of Cuttack in Odisha, allegedly set herself on fire, they said.

She was immediately rushed to the health centre on the university campus and later shifted to a private hospital from where she was taken to the state-run Osmania General Hospital, they said.

She is suspected to have lit a matchstick to her clothes and set herself on fire.

As per preliminary investigation, she was reportedly suffering from "mental depression" and attempted suicide by setting herself ablaze, Assistant Commissioner of Police N Shyam Prasad Rao said.

"She suffered 50 per cent burn injuries in the incident. Her parents have been informed," the ACP said.

The officer said the student's statement has been recorded.

He said she had attempted to end her life once earlier also.

A university official said she had joined the PhD course in January this year and she was reportedly under depression over not being able to clear an entrance examination.