Six family members in Madurai committed suicide under stress of defaulting on a loan.
Six members of a family, including three women, were found dead last night in their home in Tamil Nadu's Madurai in an apparent suicide pact over debt. Two more, including a teenager were found in a critical state and are being treated in hospital.
The family ran a school. Investigators have found a suicide note, which, they say, indicates that the family was steeped in unpaid loans.
Madurai Police Commissioner Mahesh Kumar Agarwal said: "In the suicide note, the family asks authorities to dispose of their property and settle their dues. There's no information on who they owe money to. We are investigating."
Madurai is notorious for unscrupulous money-lenders despite a state government ban.
Neighbours have alleged that the 108 ambulance service responded late, otherwise more could have been saved. District collector K Veera Raghava Rao said he was investigating the allegation and added: "We have asked the 108 operator to explain. In Madurai, the 108 service is quite good and we've saved several lives. We will look into the complaint and take action if they were found wanting in this case."