Seven Family Members Die by Suicide in Panchkula; Financial Distress Suspected

 Panchkula, Haryana – May 27: In a deeply tragic incident, seven members of a family died by suicide late Monday night in Panchkula, Haryana. Authorities believe financial hardship may have driven the family to take the extreme step.

The incident occurred in Sector 27, where the bodies were discovered inside a parked vehicle around 11 p.m. Responding to the alert, local police arrived at the scene and confirmed the deaths of six individuals inside the vehicle—including a woman, her three children, and two elderly family members. The woman's husband, identified as Praveen Mittal, was found alive but critically unwell just outside the car. He later succumbed during treatment at a local hospital.

According to police, the family had travelled from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, reportedly to attend a religious event in the region. Investigators recovered a suicide note from the vehicle, which cited financial distress as the primary motive behind the collective act.

Additional Commissioner of Police Vikram Nehra confirmed that all individuals, including three minors under the age of 14, were discovered in the same vehicle. The car's rear windshield had been obscured with a towel, suggesting an attempt to conceal the act.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Himadri Kaushik stated, “Our forensic team is on site and conducting a thorough examination of the vehicle. Initial findings point strongly toward suicide as the cause.”

Crime Branch Inspector Nirmal Singh added that the initial distress call was received around 11 p.m. “By the time we reached the location, the bodies were immediately moved to Civil Hospital. The man, identified as Praveen Mittal, was briefly alive but in critical condition.”

Mr. Mittal is believed to have run a tour and travel business in Dehradun, which had recently incurred significant financial losses. Investigators suspect this economic hardship may have prompted the drastic decision.

Family members expressed shock and grief at the tragedy. Mittal’s father-in-law told reporters, “I don’t know anything. I wasn’t aware of his arrival or departure.” A sister-in-law also confirmed that the family had not been in contact for over 10 days.

The incident has cast a pall over the region, prompting fresh discussions about mental health, financial insecurity, and the urgent need for community-based intervention mechanisms.

Authorities have initiated a formal investigation and are expected to provide further updates following the completion of the forensic and post-mortem reports.