Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, Jul 19: Tragedy struck Nalanda district as four members of a family died after allegedly consuming a poisonous substance, while a fifth member remains in critical condition, police confirmed on Saturday.

The incident took place in Pawa village, under the jurisdiction of Pawapuri police station, where the family had been residing in a rented home near the Pawapuri Jal Mandir for the past six months. The head of the family, Dharmendra Kumar (40), operated a small clothing shop in the area.

The deceased have been identified as Dharmendra’s wife Soni Kumari (38), and their children — Deepa Kumari (16), Shivam Kumar (15), and Arika Kumari (14). Dharmendra himself is currently undergoing treatment in VIMS Hospital, Rajgir, and is in critical condition.

According to investigators, the family had reportedly been facing intense financial stress, including a Rs 5 lakh debt borrowed from a private moneylender at a high interest rate. The lender’s persistent pressure for repayment is believed to have pushed the family into psychological distress.

One younger son survived the incident as he did not eat the suspected contaminated food. He is now under police protection.

Local authorities, including DSP Sunil Kumar, Inspector Manish Bhardwaj, and SHOs Deepak Kumar (Giriak) and Pawapuri, reached the scene promptly and launched a thorough investigation. Police are treating the case as a possible suicide under financial duress, but the exact cause of death will be confirmed following post-mortem reports.

The district administration has formed a medical panel to conduct autopsies at VIMS Pawapuri Medical College and Hospital.

The tragic case has left the local community in shock and raised concerns about the devastating toll of unregulated debt and mental health issues faced by struggling families.