Bihar family's debt crisis ends in tragedy: Father dead, 4 critical after poisoning attempt

A tragic incident occurred in Banka district, Bihar, in the early hours of Saturday when a family of five consumed poison in an apparent suicide attempt due to mounting financial pressures. The head of the family, Kanhaiya Mahato, an auto driver, passed away while being transported to Bhagalpur for medical treatment. His wife, Geeta Devi, and three children, aged 8 to 16, remain in critical condition. The family ingested sulphas tablets, a pesticide commonly used in farming, at around 2:00 am.

Kanhaiya Mahato had taken multiple loans from private banks to support his family. Police reports indicate that the family had been under intense pressure to repay these loans. Bank agents reportedly harassed the family over the unpaid debts, which escalated the financial strain. Kanhaiya, overwhelmed by the constant demands, resorted to poisoning himself and his family as an escape from their dire situation. His 16-year-old daughter, Savita Kumari, recalled that her parents felt their reputation had been ruined and expressed that they could no longer live with the shame. She also mentioned that her parents told them, "We will all go together."

The youngest child, eight-year-old Rakesh Kumar, survived the poisoning after spitting out the tablets. His quick action likely saved his life. The incident was discovered when Kanhaiya’s sister-in-law, Bina Devi, received an urgent call from a relative about the family’s condition. The victims were rushed to Amarpur Referral Hospital, and later, four of them were transferred to Mayaganj Hospital in Bhagalpur for advanced medical care. Unfortunately, Kanhaiya Mahato was declared dead en route to Bhagalpur.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on the family’s financial issues, the role of bank agents in pressuring the family, and whether there were any earlier signs of distress. Authorities have not ruled out any potential negligence on the part of the banks involved in the loan recovery process.