Chennai: A 43-year-old man died by suicide at his house at Uthiramerur in Kancheepuram district on Saturday, two weeks after his three-year-old daughter was killed in a road accident. Police said he died hours after performing the 16th day rituals for his daughter.The deceased, Ramu, 43, of Uthiramerur, was employed at a private firm in Poonamallee and lived in a rented house with his wife Rajeshwari, 38, and their daughters, Janavika, 12, Darshini, 7, and Ashwitha, 3.Police said Ashwitha, who was staying at her uncle’s house in Walajabad, was travelling with him on a motorcycle when they were involved in a collision with a tractor. She fell from the motorcycle and was run over by the tractor.Following her death, Ramu returned to his native village to perform the funeral rites. Family members said he remained inconsolable and frequently sat holding his daughter’s photograph.After completing the 16th day rituals on Saturday, Ramu locked himself inside a room and asked his wife not to disturb him. Around 3am, family members found him dead and rushed him to Uthiramerur Government Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Ramu, police said, was fond of the child and he initially refused to send her to stay at her uncle’s house.Uthiramerur police sent the body to Chengalpet govt hospital for postmortem. A case has been registered and further investigation is under way.Assistance for those experiencing suicidal thoughts is available through Tamil Nadu’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.
