In debt, four of family try to kill themselves near Pallikaranai

Chennai: Four members of a family, including an elderly couple, are battling for life after trying to kill themselves at Nanmangalam near Pallikaranai on Wednesday morning.

Police said when Balaji, 35, a vegetable trader, had not opened his shop on Wednesday morning, his employees went to his house to check on him. On finding him and his family — wife Priya, 30, mother Padmavathi, 52, and father Srinivasan, 60 — unconscious, the employees, with the help of Balaji’s neighbours, called an ambulance and rushed the family to Tambaram District Govt Hospital.

Police sources said the family had been facing financial difficulties, with debts estimated at ₹1 crore following substantial losses in Balaji’s vegetable business. And, Balaji and Priya, who have been married for eight years, were distressed over not having children. Their condition is said to be critical.

The Medavakkam police have registered case and are investigating.

(Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on Tamil Nadu’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)