Daughter averts suicide of other family members

Police said that 55-year-old Parimala from Krishnamoorthy Nagar, Kodungaiyur, had three daughters Uma Maheshwari (37), Jayamala (35), Manjula (33) and son Prabhu (30). Since Parimala’s husband Ranganathan, who worked a driver as the harbour, died years ago leaving the family in dire straits, Parimala raised the children with great difficulty but could not marry off the daughters. The only source of revenue to the family was a meagre family pension and the salary of Prabhu, who is working in a private firm. 

Meanwhile, Parimala’s second daughter Jayamala was diagnosed with heart ailment a few years ago, but since the family did not have any financial means, they could not treat her. As her condition worsened recently, she was admitted at Stanley Hospital on Monday, where she passed away without responding to the treatment.   

However, on Monday night, Parimala and her family members took the body of Jayamala home, without the knowledge of hospital authorities. Later, Parimala had reportedly suggested that they all commit suicide by consuming rat poison. 

However, the elder daughter Maheshwari did not agree to this, stepped out to find a way to cremate Jayamala’s body. Upon her return, she found the house locked from inside. As neighbours refused to help her, Maheshwari informed the police, who broke open the front door with the help of police. By then, all three of them were lying unconscious. 

They were rushed to Stanley Hospital, where they currently are undergoing treatment. Hospital sources said they were out of danger. Jayamala’s body has been sent back to the hospital for post mortem.

A 22-year-old man from Nepal, employed as a cook at a resort on East Coast Road, was found hanging on Monday. Police identified him as Ram. On Monday, his colleagues found him hanging in his room and alerted the resort managers. 

They informed Kanathur police, who rushed to the spot, retrieved the body and sent it for postmortem to Royapettah Government Hospital. Ram was reportedly upset since his girlfriend recently married someone else. Police have registered a case and are investigating.  

In another suicide incident, a 25-year-old woman was found hanging in her house, on Ponniyamman Koil street, Sholinganallur. She has been identified as Manimegalai, who was married to Selvakumar, for five years. The couple has two children. 

The husband, an alcoholic used to abuse her, said police. Her body has been sent to Royapettah Government Hospital for post mortem. Investigations are on.