A 19-year-old girl, Jangiti Kanaka Laksmi, a resident of Rampur village in Toguta mandal, which would be submerged due to Mallannasagar project, attempted suicide by consuming pesticide on Tuesday.
She was shifted to Siddipet government hospital and her condition is stated to be out of danger. While officials cite a family dispute as the reason for her to take the extreme step, the victim’s family members said that she was anxious about the future of her family, which would lose their house once work starts.
The villagers revealed that the officials have started surveying the houses, which would be submerged under the project, without any alternative housing arrangement for them. It was also reported that the officials’ visit to the village triggered anxious moments, with some who are dead against the Mallannasagar project deflating the tyres of their vehicles as a sign of protest. Police had to be called in to bring the situation under control.
A close relative of the victim Kanaka Laksmi, on condition of anonymity, said, “We have not been allotted any house so far for giving up our house for the project. We had thought that the government would make an alternative arrangement before taking up the survey. We are worried about our future, and that got the better of Laksmi”.
When contacted, Toguta Mandal Revenue Officer Veer Singh told The Hindu that Narasimhulu has the habit of drinking and bet up Kanaka Lakshmi, which was why she attempted suicide.
(Roshni- suicide prevention helpline: +914066202000.)