Debt-ridden couple dies in suicide pact ten days after sons succumb

Venkateshwara Prasad and his wife Latha who had consumed poisonous substances along with their three sons at Saroornagar ten days ago died while undergoing treatment on Wednesday

Hyderabad: A couple who had consumed poisonous substances along with their three sons at Saroornagar ten days ago died while undergoing treatment on Wednesday.

According to police, a trader Venkateshwara Prasad (60), who ran a grocery store at Saroornagar and lived along with his wife V Latha (55), sons Sandeep (30), Sai Swaroop (28) and Vamshi Krishna (26), at Kodandaram Nagar colony of Saroornagar. Prasad is a native of Kurnool district.

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Over a period of time, Prasad took loans from some persons and it amounted to over Rs. 25 lakh. “With no means to repay the amount and pressure mounting from the money lenders, the family decided to end their lives. On September 30 evening, Prasad purchased a bottle of poisonous substances and the family consumed it at their house,” said Saroornagar Inspector, V Saidi Reddy.

Prasad informed their neighbour that they are ending their lives. The neighbour quickly informed the police who rushed to the spot and broke the door of the house. The police shifted the five persons to hospital in an ambulance where Vamshi Krishna died while undergoing treatment the next day, their elder son Sandeep (30) died last week. On Wednesday, Prasad and his wife Latha died while undergoing treatment. Sai Swaroop, the second son of the couple is undergoing treatment.

The police registered a case and are investigating.