Chennai: Three of a family died after they consumed poison as part of a suicide pact at their residence in Gummidipoondi on Wednesday. While an elderly woman died on Wednesday, two others succumbed at the Government Stanley Hospital on Thursday. Police said that a family of five, including two teenagers, consumed poison on Wednesday at their home in Iyyarkandigai village near Gummidipoondi allegedly after a family dispute.
Police said that Selvam (45) runs an eatery in Gummidipoondi and lived with his wife, Jayanthi, mother, Valliammal (63) and two daughters Mahalakshmi (16) and Monisha (15).
On Wednesday, Selvam had mixed poison with their meals and made everyone consume the same. Neighbours who checked on the house found the family members lying unconscious with froth in their mouths after which they moved them to a hospital nearby.
Valliammal was declared brought dead at the hospital after which the other family members were moved to the Government Stanley hospital for further treatment.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Jayanthi (35) and Selvam died without responding to treatment.
The girls Mahalakshmi and Monisha are still undergoing treatment, police said. The elder daughter had completed class 10 while Monisha is to appear for her class 10 examinations.
“The girls vomited soon after they consumed the poison. Hence, their chances of survival increased,” police quoted the doctors as saying.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Selvam had bought an insecticide from Kavarapettai. Gummidipoondi Police have registered a case and are investigating. Since no suicide note was recovered from the house, police are enquiring the neighbours and relatives to ascertain the motive behind the suicide pact.
