According to the police, Nagaraj, 45, his wife Thenmozhi, 42, and their son Anand Kumar, 25, from Ilango Nagar in Avarampalayam consumed cow dung powder around noon as they couldn’t repay their debts. 

Police said Nagaraj and his son Anand used to sell bananas on a pushcart. Facing a huge loss in business, the duo had borrowed money from several persons. Anand’s wife Sarojini and their child were away at his in-law’s house in Tirupur district when he and his parents took the extreme step. 

The incident came to light when Nagaraj’s daughter Soundarya, who is married and lives elsewhere, visited the house and found her brother dead and parents in an unconscious state. She had decided to visit the house after her mother did not answer her repeated phone calls. She immediately alerted the neighbours and they rushed the trio to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital in an ambulance. 

When Soundarya came to the house, she found Anand dead and her parents lying unconscious. On information, Peelamedu police rushed to the spot and held inquiries. Police are inquiring to identify if they took the extreme step due to ‘kandhuvatti’ issue. A search is also on to determine if they had left any suicide note. 

Increasing debts have driven at least two other families to take the extreme step in the recent past in Coimbatore. On August 10, a family of four persons attempted suicide in Kuniamuthur by consuming milk laced with insecticide due to mounting debt.

On September 2, a travel firm owner murdered his elderly parents and later committed suicide by hanging due to debt in the Avarampalayam area.