Synopsis
A heartbreaking incident occurred in Chennai, where a doctor, his wife, and their two children were found dead in their home, reportedly due to financial distress. The family’s tragic end highlights the urgent need for mental health awareness.Key Takeaways
- Family of four found dead in Chennai home.
- Financial issues are believed to have contributed.
- Dr Balamurugan owned a diagnostic center.
- Suicide rates in Tamil Nadu remain a concern.
- Mental health awareness is urgently needed.
Chennai, March 13 (NationPress) A devastating event occurred in Anna Nagar West, Chennai, where a doctor, his spouse, and their two sons were discovered deceased in their residence on Thursday morning.
Authorities have identified the victims as Dr Balamurugan, his wife Sumathi, and their two children, Dasvanth (17) and Lingesh (15).
Preliminary investigations indicate that financial difficulties may have led to their tragic decision.
Dr Balamurugan, who owned a diagnostic scanning facility, had reportedly encountered severe financial setbacks resulting in substantial debts. His wife Sumathi was a practicing attorney in the local court. Their elder son, Dasvanth, was gearing up for his Class 12 board exams, while the younger son, Lingesh, was in Class 10.
The grim discovery was made on Thursday morning when their driver arrived at the residence. After receiving no reply, he notified the neighbors. Upon looking through the window, they saw the family members hanging. Dr Balamurugan and Sumathi were located in one room, while their sons were found in another.
Upon receiving the alert, city police quickly arrived at the scene and retrieved the bodies. The remains were subsequently sent to Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital for autopsy.
Suicide is a significant public health concern in India. Statistics indicate that Maharashtra recorded the highest number of suicides in the nation (22,746), followed by Tamil Nadu (19,834) and Madhya Pradesh (15,386). Together, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and West Bengal accounted for nearly half of the nationwide suicide reports. In contrast, Nagaland had the fewest, with only 41 cases.
Dr Suchitra V. Menon, a psychologist and social worker, spoke to IANS, underscoring the necessity of mental health awareness. “Many individuals who end their lives often conceal their struggles. If they had communicated their issues with friends or family, potential solutions could have emerged. Increased awareness is critical to help individuals realize that suicide is not the solution,” she remarked. She also pointed out that Tamil Nadu remains among the top four states with the highest suicide rates and advocated for enhanced awareness campaigns to tackle this issue.
