Unable to bear the death of the head of the family, a family of four committed suicide late on Friday night.
Housing Board divisional engineer P. Satyanarana who was ill for sometime reportedly died while being shifted to Hyderabad for treatment. Disturbed by his sudden demise, his wife Meera, and two daughters – Swathi, Neelima — and son Sivarama Krishna committed suicide by jumping before a running train.
Speaking to The Hindu , deceased Satyanarayana’s father, 80-year-old P Prakasham said in a choked voice that he was waiting for his death but now has to conduct the last rites of his son. He said his daughter-in-law was not in good terms with them and had influenced her children as well. “The family came here in March last. She was not on good terms even with her own family members,” he said waiting to conduct the last rites of his wards.
A pall of gloom descended on Ladnur village from where the family hailed. Mr Prakasham and his wife Manemma wailed inconsolably as hundreds of villagers turned up at their residence to console them.
D Venu Sharma, a neighbour, said the children who were all educated should have been brave and ignored their mother’s decision on the suicide pact . “It is very disturbing to know this. Mr Satyanarayana is my friend since childhood,” he said wiping his tears.
Another neighbor Ms Andalu, said she was terrified to hear the news of the suicide. “The children should have been brave,” she said.
Konda Rangaiah, a retired teacher of the village, said both the husband and wife were not on good terms for a long time. Mr Satyanarayana was not keeping well for some time and was depressed as he couldn’t conduct the marriage of his daughters. “His wife did not allow him to perform the marriage of their daughters,” he said.
Most of the villagers opined that mother poisoned the children and drove them to suicide in an emotional fit.
The family owned a house at Jangaon while they lived elsewhere owing to studies and employment.
