Tragic Family Incident in Ganjam: A Closer Look at the Circumstances
Devastating Loss in Ganjam
In a heartbreaking incident in Ganjam district, a 45-year-old woman, along with her son and daughter, reportedly took their own lives by ingesting rice contaminated with pesticide. This tragic event occurred in Palibandha village, as confirmed by local authorities on Monday.
The victims have been identified as S Mama Reddy, her 21-year-old son Rakesh, who was pursuing a diploma in engineering, and her 18-year-old daughter Meena, a class 12 student.
Three years prior, the family suffered the loss of S Rabindra Kumar Reddy, Mama's husband, who died in a road accident in Chennai. They were set to receive a compensation of ₹15 lakh next week due to his untimely death.
Authorities discovered pesticide sachets in their home, believed to have been used in the rice they consumed. This pesticide is typically utilized to protect rice from pests, but the reasons behind this tragic act remain uncertain, prompting police to investigate various possibilities.
Neighbors noted the family's absence from a community gathering on Sunday, which raised concerns. Upon checking on them, they found the three unconscious and quickly transported them to medical facilities in Ganjam and Chhatrapur before transferring them to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
Former Sarpanch Dillip Kumar Chhotaray, who arrived at the hospital, reported that Rakesh was frothing at the mouth during the transport. Sadly, Mama passed away first, followed by her children around 3 AM.
Chhotaray expressed shock, stating, "They were a quiet and kind family. No one expected them to take such an extreme step."
Speculation has emerged regarding a potential personal issue involving one of the deceased, but the simultaneous nature of their deaths raises many questions. The village was enveloped in sorrow when the bodies were returned home.
S Lakshmi, the grieving 75-year-old mother-in-law of Mama, was seen weeping uncontrollably, lamenting, "We were a happy family. I don’t know why they took such a decision." Villager S Ramachandra Reddy criticized the delay of over an hour for an ambulance to arrive at the Chhatrapur facility, which forced them to use a private vehicle for transport.
IIC Sumitra Patra stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the deaths, emphasizing that the post-mortem and forensic reports will provide clarity.
Chhatrapur MLA Krushna Chandra Nayak visited the surviving family member, S Lakshmi, along with BDO Achyutananda Jani and Tehsildar Sukanta Chandra Mishra, to extend condolences. As part of immediate assistance, an ex gratia payment of ₹90,000 was provided from the emergency fund of the Indian Red Cross Society.