A doctor, his wife and their two teenage sons were found dead in their residence in Anna Nagar West on Thursday morning. The deceased have been identified as Dr Balamurugan (52), his wife Sumathi (47), and their sons Dasvanth (17) and Lingesh (15). Preliminary police investigations suggest that financial distress may have led the family to take this extreme step.
Mass ‘Suicide’ Suspected
Dr Balamurugan, who owned a diagnostic scan center, had reportedly been facing severe financial losses in recent years, resulting in mounting debts, as per a report on IANS. His wife was a practicing lawyer at the city court. Their elder son was preparing for his Class 12 board exams, while the younger son, Lingesh, was in Class 10. The financial crisis is believed to have pushed the family to despair, ultimately leading to their deaths.
The family’s driver when he arrived at their home on Thursday morning found no response, reported NDTV. Alarmed, he alerted neighbours, who peered through a window and saw the family members hanging. Dr Balamurugan and Sumathi were found in one room, while their sons were found dead in another.
The Thirumangalam police were immediately informed and rushed to the scene, as per PTI. The bodies were later sent to Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
The Thirumangalam police have registered a case and are investigating the incident as a suspected suicide. Initial reports indicate that financial distress was a key factor behind the tragedy. However, further investigations are underway to determine any other possible circumstances that led to the family’s deaths.
According to a data from 2022-23, Maharashtra recorded the highest number of suicides in India with 22,746 deaths followed by Tamil Nadu with 19,834 cases in a year, reported IANS.
(If anyone faces mental health issues or knows anyone having suicidal feelings, they can seek emotional support with helpline numbers from suicide prevention organizations in the state. Tamil Nadu Govt suicide Helpline: 104)
