Daijiworld Media Network - Amaravati

Amaravati, Aug 25: In a tragic incident, five members of a family allegedly died by suicide at a rest house in the temple town of Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, police said on Tuesday.

The deceased have been identified as Pallapu Sudhakar (50), his sisters Gogula Adilakshmi (36), Malleshwari (45), and Sridevi (33), along with Malleshwari’s 15-year-old son, Manikantha. All five victims hailed from Battalapalli in Sri Sathya Sai district.

According to the police, the family had arrived at Srisailam in an auto-rickshaw on July 28 and checked into room number 11 at Vaddera Sataram, a lodge for devotees visiting the Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy temple, paying a daily rent of Rs 29.

The incident came to light on Tuesday when lodge staff alerted the authorities after a foul smell began emanating from the locked room. Police broke open the door and discovered the bodies of two men hanging from the ceiling fan in the room, while the three women were found hanging inside the washroom. Officials believe the extreme step was taken three days prior.

Atmakur DSP Ramanjaneyulu visited the crime scene and stated that preliminary investigations point to severe financial difficulties as the reason behind the act. Sudhakar, who was unmarried, was taking care of his sisters, two of whom were divorcees. When the rest house management had previously requested the family to vacate, they had reportedly asked for more time, citing poor health and their intent to make a pledge at the temple.

The police have shifted the bodies to the government hospital in Srisailam for a post-mortem examination. A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway from all angles.