Woman, 3 daughters die after consuming pesticide in MP's Shahdol

BHOPAL: A 32-year-old woman allegedly consumed pesticide after administering the same to her three minor daughters in Madhya Pradesh’s Shahdol district on Saturday. All four died with the police still trying to ascertain what triggered the tragedy.

The deaths were reported from Hirwar village under the Paondh police station limits. The deceased were identified as Anita Singh, 32, and her daughters Ritika, 7, Krishnakumari, 4, and Arpita, 2.

According to police, the incident took place on Saturday evening when Anita allegedly administered pesticide to her daughters before consuming it herself. While the woman and two of the children lost consciousness almost immediately, the eldest daughter managed to step out of the house and alert neighbours.

“On Saturday at around 7 pm Anita consumed the pesticide and gave it to her daughters. All except the 7-year-old girl fainted. She went out and informed the neighbours,” Paondh police station in-charge Brijendra Mishra told TOI.

Neighbours rushed the four to Beohari hospital, where doctors declared Anita and two of her daughters dead. The eldest girl succumbed during treatment.

Police said Anita had been living in the village with her daughters while her husband, a driver, worked in another town. Her in-laws reside in the same village but in a separate house.

“The reasons that triggered the incident are not clear yet. She used to live alone with her daughters, her husband works in some other town. Her in-laws live in the same village but in a separate house. As per our primary findings, she was considered to be of good nature and character in the village. Post mortem was done and the body was handed over to the kin on Sunday and even her parents’ side was present but everyone was clueless,” Mishra said.

Investigators have also found that before consuming the pesticide, Anita took out clothes and utensils from the house and set them ablaze, though the fire did not spread significantly.

“However, there must be some trigger that led to it, we are still investigating it. Before consuming the pesticide and administering it to her daughter, she took out clothes and utensils from her house and set them ablaze,” Mishra added.