Mother in poison gas deaths “depressed”

Heena Solanki, found dead along with her two daughters in their west London house last week, may have taken her own life after poisoning the girls, it was claimed on Monday, amid suggestions that she was suffering from depression.

The bodies of Solanki (34), a school laboratory assistant, and her daughters Prisha (4) and Jasmine (9) were found on Friday when neighbours called the police after they noticed a strong smell coming out of the house and feared there was a gas leak.

“Detectives suspect Heena Solanki used her chemistry knowledge to poison her daughters,” said

The Daily Telegraph , claiming the police were investigating whether she “could have used scientific expertise to concoct a poison gas.” Police declined to comment. “The deaths are being treated as unexplained at this stage. We have nothing to add,” a spokesman told

The Hindu . A post-mortem is due later this week. Neighbours described Heena, originally from Surat, as a “friendly” person. They said her parents-in-law Chaganlal (71), known as Charlie, and Kalavati (61) looked after the children when she and her husband Kalpesh went to work.