In a heart-wrenching incident, three members of a family were found dead with their wrists slit at their residence in Kolkata’s Tangra area. The deceased include two women and a young girl. Simultaneously, three male members of the same family sustained injuries after their scooter collided with a concrete pillar on the EM Bypass. Preliminary investigations suggest that financial distress stemming from their leather business led to this tragic sequence of events.
Discovery of the Tragedy
The sequence of events unfolded when a scooter, carrying a young boy and his two uncles, crashed into a concrete pillar on the EM Bypass. Upon reaching the accident scene, police found the injured trio and rushed them to a nearby hospital. During initial questioning, one of the injured revealed that the family had entered into a suicide pact due to overwhelming debts and financial losses in their leather business. He further disclosed that three other family members were at their residence in Tangra.
Acting on this information, law enforcement officials proceeded to the family’s home, where they discovered the lifeless bodies of two women and a girl in a pool of blood, with their wrists slit. The scene indicated a coordinated and tragic decision by the family members to end their lives.
Financial Strain as the Underlying Cause
The family operated a leather business, which had been experiencing significant financial setbacks. Mounting debts and continuous losses had placed immense pressure on them. This incident is not isolated; financial distress has been a recurring factor in similar tragedies. For instance, in December 2024, three members of a family in Narendrapur died in a suicide pact following alleged financial fraud
Similarly, in March 2021, a family in Kolkata’s New Market area was found dead in a hotel, with suicide notes detailing how the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown “destroyed everything,” leading to insurmountable debts
Community and Official Responses
The local community in Tangra has been left in shock and mourning. Neighbors described the family as generally reserved but noted that the financial difficulties were apparent. Joint Police Commissioner Rupesh Kumar stated, “Three bodies were recovered from their house. Three others were injured in the road accident. They are one family. The injured are now in hospital.”
Authorities have initiated a detailed investigation to understand the full scope of the family’s financial troubles and the events leading up to the tragedy. This incident underscores the severe impact of financial stress on mental health and the critical need for accessible support systems.
The Broader Issue of Financially Induced Tragedies
Financial distress has been a significant factor in numerous family tragedies across India. In September 2024, nine members of a jeweler’s family in Rajkot attempted suicide due to financial distress after two businessmen failed to pay them for gold jewelry worth around Rs.1.95 crore
These incidents highlight the urgent need for financial counseling, mental health support, and community intervention to prevent such heartbreaking outcomes.
Conclusion
The tragic events in Kolkata’s Tangra neighborhood serve as a somber reminder of the devastating effects of financial hardship on families. It is imperative for communities and authorities to work collaboratively to provide support systems that can address both the economic and emotional challenges faced by individuals and families in distress.
