A class VI student succumbed to burn injuries after he lit a fire while playing with paint thinners at his house in Pachampettai village on Tuesday.

The police said the deceased was identified as I. Kavin, 11, son of S. Illayaraja, 38, and I. Kaviya, 34. Initial inquiry revealed that Illayaraja, a farmer, had purchased large quantities of paints and other items to paint his decades-old house in the village.

When his parents were not around, Kavin allegedly took a few bottles of paints and paint thinners to the terrace. While playing with these, he inadvertently lit a fire with a matchstick. On hearing his screams, his father rushed to the terrace and found his son on fire.

The police said that even as his father and neighbours tried to put out the fire, the boy sustained grievous burns and the father sustained minor burns. The duo was referred to Government Medical College Hospital in Chennai, where the boy succumbed to injuries. A case was registered by Jolarpet police. A probe is under way.