Police were on Sunday investigating the deaths of three members of an Indian-origin family after the bodies of a woman and her two daughters were found in their house in west London.
They were named as Heena Solanki (34), a school laboratory assistant, Prisha (4) and Jasmine (9).
While police said they were treating the deaths as unexplained, media reports claimed that Ms. Solanki was thought to have killed herself and her two daughters by filling their home with poisonous fumes.
Neighbours reportedly called the police after they noticed a strong smell coming out of the house.
Some media reports, however, claimed that the police were called by Ms. Solanki’s husband, Kalpesh, after he returned home from work and discovered the bodies.
“Police were called at approximately 6.40 p.m. on Friday. The deaths are being treated as unexplained at this stage,” Scotland Yard said in a statement.
Sources were reported as saying that police were investigating whether the victims died after swallowing chemicals.
Neighbours told media that police officers were seen removing a bag marked “caution health hazard”, and what appeared to be “a suitcase and tubing”.
“I saw these people go into the house in chemical suits. I couldn’t believe what was going on. They were a happy family and the children were lovely little kids,” one neighbour told The Mirror newspaper.
Another said: “Police told us to shut the windows as there might have been a toxic substance. We didn’t know what to think. We had no idea what was going on and no one would tell us.”
Pranali Chambhar, a family friend, said Ms. Solanki never used chemicals at home.
She lived with her children, her husband and in-laws and was said to be due to start a new job next month.
Kalpesh’s parents were away on holiday in India.
