Srikakulam Woman, Her Infant Die Of Suspected Poisoning
A Srikakulam woman and her seven-month-old son died in a suspected poisoning incident, while her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter remains critically ill.
A Srikakulam district woman and her seven-month-old son died, while her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter remains in a critical condition in a suspected poisoning incident at Chilakapalem village in Etcherla mandal.
According to police, J. Meena, 29, had been at home with her children after her husband Jagadish, a lorry driver, left for work on Monday night.
On Tuesday morning, a neighbour saw Meena vomiting outside the house, whose odour resembled that of pesticide. The neighbour alerted the family, which found the two children unconscious inside the house.
The family and neighbours rushed all three to a hospital. Despite medical efforts, seven-month-old Kuldeep died during treatment and Meena died later. Her daughter Gayatri remains in a serious condition.
Preliminary investigations suggest Meena may have mixed a poisonous substance with milk and given it to her children before consuming it herself. Police said the circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be established.
Family members told police that Meena had reportedly been experiencing mental health difficulties. They said they had not anticipated such an incident.
Etcherla sub-inspector G. Lakshmana Rao registered a case after a complaint from Meena’s mother Ammayamma.
The SI said preliminary inquiries have not indicated any marital discord. Further investigations are on to find the possible reasons for the incident.