TW: Mention of suicide
A 42-year-old man and his family allegedly committed suicide in their car in Panchkula, owing to reported debt of Rs 20 crore.
While taking a walk at night, a local man spotted a car with Dehradun (Uttarakhand) registration with a man seated on the pavement. Upon approaching, the semi-conscious man said that their family could not find a lodge at this time after returning from Bageshwar Dham and hence halted on the road for rest.
The local resident and his brother found a towel hanging out of the car suspicious and decided to probe further. The sight inside the car shocked the men. Six people, including two minors, were dead with pukes all over them.
Upon inquiry, the man seated on the pavement told them they had consumed poison along with him. The man added that he would die too in five minutes. The man and the occupants of the car (his wife, minor kids, and his parents) were rushed to the hospital but were declared dead.
The man, identified as Praveen Mittal, was in huge debt, according to his relative. Per media reports, he had taken close to Rs 1 crore in debt from a bank and per NDTV, he owed Rs 20 crore. His two flats and vehicles were seized. Formerly a resident of Panchkula, the family had moved to Dehradun, where Praveen operated a travel agency, which reportedly was running at a significant loss. His former scrap factory in Himachal Pradesh's Baddi was also seized by the bank.
In the car, there was a note found mentioning the family's financial distress and instructions that their last rites be conducted by Praveen's cousin Sandeep Agarwal.
Police is investigating the matter and find prima facie the horrific incident a mass suicide.
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Cover: Patrick Gawande / Mashable India
If you are feeling suicidal, please call AASRA at +91 9820466726 or head over to http://www.aasra.info/helpline.html to find your nearest helpline.