Seven members of a family, including a couple, their three children, and elderly relatives, died by suicide in Panchkula on Monday night. The victims were discovered inside a car parked outside house number 1204, and authorities suspect they ingested poison.
Among the deceased, two have been identified as Praveen Mittal and his father, Deshraj Mittal. The family, originally from Kaulagarh in Dehradun, had lived there on rent for three years before shifting to a rental home in Neembuwala. According to their former neighbour, Rajkumari Nautiyal, the family was also involved in running an NGO.
Around 11 p.m. on Monday, the police received a distress call via Dial 112, reporting that several people appeared to have taken their lives inside a parked vehicle. Police teams rushed to the scene and moved six of the victims to a private hospital in Sector 26, while one more person, who was found struggling outside the car, was taken to the civil hospital in Sector 6.
Senior police officers, including DCP Himadri Kaushik, arrived at the scene to oversee the investigation. Initial findings suggest that Praveen Mittal had recently started a tour and travel business in Dehradun, which failed and led to significant financial losses. The family was reportedly burdened by debt and struggling to make ends meet, which may have driven them to this tragic decision.
The heartbreaking incident has cast a shadow of grief over both Dehradun and Panchkula. The police have registered a case and launched a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
