An elderly woman died in a fire at her house at Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat early yesterday, police said. The deceased was identified as Asia Begum, 70, wife of Abdul Maleque of Shalpara village in the upazila. Police said Asia used to warm herself near a fire before going to bed at night. She did the same on Sunday night but her blanket caught fire, which immediately spread over her body. Hearing screams at around 3:00am, neighbours tried to rescue her, but could not do so as they failed to open the locked door. Later, fire fighters of the upazila recovered her charred body.