Dharamshala (Arvind Sharma) |
A mother and her teenage daughter died under mysterious circumstances in Gheli village, under Dhewa Panchayat in the Jawali subdivision of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, while the family’s minor son is battling for his life. The tragic incident has left the entire region in shock and mourning.
The deceased have been identified as Shakuntala Devi (42), an ASHA worker and wife of Budhi Singh, and their daughter Priya, a Class IX student. Their son, Lekh Raj, a Class VII student, is undergoing treatment in critical condition.
According to Budhi Singh, the family had dinner together on Thursday night before retiring to their respective rooms. When he woke up on Friday morning, he found his wife and daughter lying unconscious. On checking them, he realized that both had died. At the same time, his son was repeatedly vomiting and was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital in Jawali, where his condition is stated to be stable.
After receiving information about the incident, a police team reached the spot and initiated an investigation. Nurpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Elma Afroz personally visited Gheli village to inspect the scene and meet the bereaved family. A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) was also called to conduct a scientific examination of the premises, and forensic experts collected samples from the house for analysis.
Police officials said the exact cause of the deaths is yet to be determined. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and the cause of death will be established only after the forensic and post-mortem reports are received. Investigators are examining all possible angles.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the incident, Vikramjit Sharma, Chairman of the District Child Welfare Committee, along with committee members Vijay Sharma and Nareshta Kumari, sought detailed information about the case on Friday.
Speaking to the media, Vikramjit Sharma said the committee learned about the tragedy through media reports. He confirmed that the family’s son was admitted to Jawali Civil Hospital by his father with the assistance of local villagers and is currently undergoing treatment.
As the case involves minor children, the District Child Welfare Committee has sought a status report on the preliminary investigation from Jawali Police Station. The committee has also directed the police to ensure that all necessary legal procedures are carried out promptly and that the investigation is conducted in a fair and comprehensive manner.
