A suspected suicide pact led to the death of two members of a family in Sohela area of Bargarh district on Sunday.
The shocking incident took place at Masterpada village. Bansidhar Sahu and his sister Subarna Mahajan died after they allegedly consumed poison. The third member of the family, their mother Kumudini Sahu, who was also part of the suspected suicide pact, is now battling for her life at Sohela Community Health Centre (CHC).
As per sources, Kumudini and her children had been under severe mental stress since September 6 when her ailing husband died. It is believed that they were unable to come to terms with the loss and attempted to end their lives. Today at around 11 am, they locked themselves in a room and consumed insecticide.
After coming to know about this, the neighbours immediately informed the police. Upon reaching at the spot, the police broke open the door and rescued them in serious conditions. They rushed the trio to Sohela CHC. Later, Bansidhar was shifted to VIMSAR, Burla. However, he breathed his last while undergoing treatment.
Similarly, Subarna succumbed while being shifted from the Sohela government hospital to VIMSAR, Burla. As of now, Kumudini is struggling for life at Sohela CHC.
When the news of deaths broke, a pall of gloom descended on the village.