Paradip, June 12: A 56-year-old schoolteacher, Birabar, burnt himself and his wife to death at a village in Naugaon police limits in Jagatsinghpur district last night.

He also tried to burn alive his 22-year-old physically-challenged son Bimalbhanu by pouring petrol on him and setting him on fire. Bimal is critical.

"Birabar was a teacher at a government-run school. He had financial peoblems and some family disputes. His son, a polio victim, suffered over 60 per cent burn injuries," said Naugaon police station inspector in charge Shyamghan Behera.

Hearing loud screams, local residents rushed to Birabar's house to find that it had been engulfed by fire. All three were admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

However, Birabar and his wife were declared brought dead by the doctors.