Police said Shantakumar, a painter, had taken loans from them to fuel his drinking habit and when he did not repay them, started asking his wife Darshini to do so.
Unable to bear the humiliation, Darshini doused with kerosene and set herself ablaze this morning.
Hearing her screams, neighbours rushed to the spot and gor her admitted to the Government Hospital here. However she died without responding to treatment, police said.