The autorickshaw driver had come along with his wife and two kids when he suddenly took out a can, doused his body with petrol and tried to set himself ablaze.
However, some treasury department officials overpowered him before he could light matchstick, police said.
They said he had taken huge amounts from private money lenders and was uble to repay and reportedly lost the auto rickshaw for nonpayment, they said.
The man was arrested and remanded to custody after a case for attempt to commit suicide was registered against him, police added.