Three siblings found dead in Maharashtra's Virar amid financial distress over cancer treatment

Three siblings allegedly died by suicide after consuming rat poison in Virar, in Maharashtra's Palghar district, amid financial distress following a cancer diagnosis in the family, a police official said on Thursday.

The bodies of Kumar Mansukhlal Mehta (50), Deepak Mansukhlal Mehta (52) and Khevna Mansukhlal Mehta (48) were found inside their flat in Global City, Virar, at around 9.30 pm on Wednesday. Neighbours alerted the authorities after noticing a foul smell coming from the flat, the official from Bolinj police station said.

According to assistant inspector Vishnu Wadkar, the flat was bolted from the inside and the bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition.

“Kumar Mehta was suffering from cancer and the family had plunged into depression after it could not raise funds for treatment from relatives or friends,” Wadkar told PTI.

The three siblings, who lived together, allegedly consumed rat poison as part of a suicide pact, the police official said.

A case of accidental death has been registered, and further investigation is underway, Wadkar added. (with inputs from PTI)