Family Consumed Poison at Their Factory in Sangam Park, Police Investigate Motive
New Delhi, May 13 – The bodies of Jagdish Singh (16) and Hargul Kaur (15), along with their parents Hardeep Singh (40) and Harpreet Kaur (38), were cremated on Tuesday — the same day the children's board examination results were declared. The tragic family suicide in South Delhi's Sangam Park has left neighbours, relatives, and officials grappling for answers.The family reportedly ingested a red anti-corrosion powder, commonly used in metal treatment, by mixing it with water at their small horn-manufacturing unit in DSIDC Shed Number 63. The incident unfolded on Monday morning, and all four eventually succumbed to the toxic substance.
Police confirmed that no suicide note was found at the scene. However, they recovered orange-coloured powder and glasses containing traces of the poison-laced water, which have been sent to the forensic laboratory for analysis.
Sudden Tragedy Shocks Community
According to officials, the family had visited Shishganj Gurdwara in Chandni Chowk on Sunday night. They spent the night there before returning to the factory, where the fatal act occurred. Police sources suggest financial losses in the business might have pushed the family to this extreme step. However, relatives have disputed this theory."My son was a finance expert. He knew how to handle losses. Financial stress wasn't the reason," said Hardeep's father, Ujagar Singh, in disbelief. "His children were strong-minded. Something else must have led to this."
Ujagar recounted that Hardeep had earlier run a business in Kathmandu and endured severe losses there too but never showed signs of emotional distress.
No Financial Crisis, Say Family and Neighbours
Family members and acquaintances maintain that Hardeep was financially stable. He had recently shifted from a rented house in Model Town to his own residence in Chander Vihar. The horn unit's employee had left despite receiving good pay, and the children were enrolled in prestigious public schools — all signs, they say, of a financially secure household.A neighbouring factory owner recounted the horrifying moment the tragedy was discovered. "Hardeep's aunt arrived with the police. The room's latch opened from inside, and his son Jagdish staggered out before collapsing. Inside, the rest of the family was unconscious," he said.
Unanswered Questions and a Family's Pain
Police believe the family had the poison readily available at their factory as part of their manufacturing process. Investigators are still trying to establish the exact motive behind the coordinated act."Hardeep never discussed his problems. He was always a fighter," said his father, tearfully waiting outside the mortuary at Bara Hindu Rao Hospital.
The police confirmed that one of the children managed to call their aunt before losing consciousness, which led to the emergency response. Despite being rushed to the hospital, all four succumbed.
The tragic incident has shaken the community, with many struggling to comprehend why a seemingly stable and spiritually inclined family would end their lives in such a manner. The case remains under investigation.