Eight of family commit suicide to escape poverty

The tenth member, Rajni Patel (8), survived as she had gone to visit elder sister Reena Patel in Sitapur. The deceased were identified as Ram Kali (65), Ram Kishan Patel (45), his wife Savitri Patel (37), son Vinay Patel (21), Vineet (13), Chotta Bhaiya (11), Golu (7) and Mohini (17).

Locals said Ram ran a bangles shop, had four sons and four daughters, and was depressed as business was not doing well. “I still can’t believe they committed suicide… Two days back, he (Ram) told me it was becoming difficult to run his family and he was worried about getting his children married off,” his brother Jeewan Patel said today.

Locals said Ram’s elder son worked at a shop in the village, while younger son Vinay helped his father run the shop. The family’s total daily earning was about Rs 120, they said

Ram’s neighbour Santosh Patel said that at 11 pm on Saturday, he heard loud wails: “I rushed to Ram’s house… His wife Savitri opened the door, I found them vomiting. Savitri said they had all taken poison.’’

“I informed neighbours, including village pradhan Satya Prakash Dixit. I took them in a trolley to Lakhimpur District Hospital, some 40 km away. “Ram and Savitri passed away before I could manage a private vehicle. Four others died on way to the hospital… Mohini died at the hospital gate,” Santosh added.

Lakhimpur SP Zaki Ahmed said that the family was poor, “but we are investigating the case…”