A Penal pensioner suffered severe burns and was hospitalised in a critical condition on Monday night.Tara Bridgelal, 66, a mother of two of Rochard Road, suffered extensive burns to the neck and face on both cheeks, and hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit of the San Fernando General Hospital.Officers of the Penal Police Station were contacted by staff at the SFGH who informed them about the incident, and a police team including Insp Sobie, PC Hadai and WPC Noreiga responded and conducted investigations.A police report stated that officers spoke with a doctor at the Accident and Emergency Department of the San Fernando General Hospital, and were told that the victim was broughtinto the hospital by a neighbour.The initial information to the police was that a gas tank exploded in her kitchen,causing her injuries.The report also stated that the victim later indicated that she and her son had an argument and he threw a liquid on her and set her ablaze.However, the victim was intubated and officers were unable to interview her.Police said checks were made for the suspect but without success.When the Express visited the house on Tuesday, a relative who did not wish to be named, said he was at the house when the incident occurred.The relative said that he tried to extinguish the flames and called out to the neighbour who took her to the hospital.The relative said, “That thing happened so fast. She took out food for the dogs. I have no idea how the fire started. But when the fire happened but I beat the dress to out the flames. But I realise the fire was raising more. The material for the dress was a silk material and it was melting.