Fear of ants forces young mother to die by suicide in Hyderabad

A 25-year-old mother in Hyderabad died by suicide after years of battling myrmecophobia, an intense fear of ants. Her note asked her husband to care for their child. The case highlights the urgent need for mental health awareness and support.

Hyderabad: In a heartbreaking incident reported from the outskirts of Hyderabad, a young mother ended her life after struggling for years with an overwhelming fear of ants. The woman, identified as Manisha, was just 25 and lived in Ameenpur with her husband and three-year-old daughter.

Police say Manisha had been battling an intense phobia of ants since childhood, a condition known as myrmecophobia. Despite receiving treatment earlier, the fear never left her. According to investigators, she wrote a note explaining that she could no longer live with the constant anxiety and asked her husband to take care of their child.

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On Tuesday evening, her husband, Srikanth returned home from work to find the door locked from inside. When repeated knocks went unanswered, he sought help from neighbors to break open the door. Inside, they found Manisha had taken her life using a saree. The note expressed her apologies and love for her family. Police are continuing their investigation.

Manisha, police said, hailed from Mancherial town in Telangana and was married to Srikanth three years ago. The couple was living in Navya Home apartment complex in Ameenpur police limits for the last two years or so.