4 of Bangalore family found dead in lodge

Four of a family from Rajajinagar in Bangalore were found dead in a hotel room in Subramanya town on Saturday.

Superintendent of Police S.D. Sharanappa gave the names of the deceased as Nanjudappa, his wife, Jayamma and their children — Pavan and Lakshmi.

Mr. Sharanappa said the family had taken a room in S.L.R. Lodge on May 7. On Saturday, the lodge staff realised that a foul smell was emanating from the room. From outside, they saw that the four persons appeared to be dead. “We are waiting for their relatives to arrive from Bangalore. We will open the door in their presence,” Mr. Sharanappa said. A police officer said the family was reportedly in debt and that could have led to them taking the extreme step.

To a question on why the police were waiting for relatives to arrive instead of breaking open the door to see if anyone was still alive, Mr. Sharanappa said a glimpse from the window had led them to believe that all four persons were dead. The bodies were decaying, he said. The relatives of the deceased were expected to reach Subramanya around midnight.

The ages of the deceased and other details were yet to be ascertained, the Superintendent of Police said.