A farmer reeling under debt burden committed suicide by hanging himself while his wife killed herself after setting ablaze her two daughters in Honnalli of Chamarajanagar taluk on Sunday.
The deceased have been identified as Shivanappa (44), his wife Kanya (35) and daughters Priya (8) and Preethi (6).
According to police, Shivanappa owned three acres of land where he had sunk a borewell by borrowing money. He was growing banana and vegetables on the land.
Water yield gone down
Of late, the water yield from the borewell had gone down and it had become difficult for Shivanappa to grow crops. He hung himself to death at the hut on his land on Saturday night. Since he did not return home, his wife Kanya went to the land only to find Shivanappa dead.
A shocked Kanya returned home and killed herself after setting her two daughters ablaze.
The incident came to light after the neighbours head the screams. By the time they rushed to rescue, all the three had charred to death.
Chamarajnagar rural police have registered a case.
Published 24 April 2016, 18:58 IST