Six members of a family, including three children, were found dead inside a parked car in Haryana’s Panchkula on Monday night. A seventh man, reportedly the head of the family, was discovered sitting outside the vehicle, stating he would die within five minutes. Authorities suspect a suicide pact, likely triggered by severe financial distress.
From Spiritual Gathering to Tragedy
According to police, the family of Praveen Mittal, 42, was returning from a spiritual programme at Bageshwar Dham in Panchkula to their home in Dehradun. As per initial reports, the family allegedly consumed poison inside the car late at night.
A local resident noticed the vehicle, bearing a Uttarakhand number plate, parked behind his car during a night walk. “What stood apart for us was a towel hanging from the car,” the resident said. When they approached the man outside, he said they had attended Bageshwar Dham and, failing to find a hotel, decided to sleep in the car.
The man appeared to comply when asked to move the car to a safer location, but suspicion lingered. The resident returned to check and was horrified to find six motionless bodies inside, with signs of vomiting and a foul smell.
Chilling Confession and Delayed Help
“I saw six people lying flat. They had vomited on each other. The car was stinking. I pulled the man away and asked what the matter was. He then informed that the family has died in a suicide pact and he will die too, in five minutes. The man claimed to be under huge debt,” the resident recounted.
Although the family was rushed to a nearby hospital, doctors declared all members dead. Locals claim the man might have survived if the ambulance had arrived sooner.
Family and Investigation Details
The deceased include Praveen Mittal, his elderly parents, his wife, and their three young children, two daughters and a son.
Senior police officials including Panchkula Deputy Commissioner of Police Himadri Kaushik and DCP Law and Order Amit Dahiya reached the site for investigation. “We received information that six people have been brought to Ojas Hospital. When we reached there, we learnt they were declared dead,” said Kaushik. “Another person was brought to the Civil Hospital, Sector 6. He has also been declared dead. Some facts make it clear it is a case of suicide. We are collecting scientific evidence to assess the matter,” she added.
Officials have recovered a suicide note, but its contents remain undisclosed. The family was reportedly dealing with massive financial debt. The bodies have been moved to a private hospital’s mortuary for postmortem.
