Indian couple commit suicide after 7-year-old dies of dengue

NEW DELHI (Web Desk) - The Delhi government has issued notices to two private hospitals after the parents of a seven-year-old boy, who died of dengue on September 8, jumped to their deaths from a building after they failed to get him admitted to a hospital in time.

The deceased were identified as Laxmichandra and Babita Rout, both natives of Odisha, said DCP (south) Prem Nath, adding that the couple has left behind a one-page suicide note in Odia, in which they written that "it is nobody's fault" and the "the decision" was theirs.

The couple's only son, Avinash, died of suspected dengue on September 8 after allegedly being denied admission at two prominent private hospitals on the previous day, the Times of India reported.



Union health minister JP Nadda expressed anguish over the denial of admission to the child and tragedy thereafter. He has assured action against those guilty.

"Ordered inquiry into incident reported in media involving death of child in Delhi due to Dengue & suicide by parents.Guilty won't be spared," Nadda tweeted.

Ordered inquiry into incident reported in media involving death of child in Delhi due to Dengue & suicide by parents.Guilty won't be spared.

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 12, 2015

This year, dengue has taken shape of an outbreak in India and most hospitals claim they are running full. Total 1300 dengue cases have been reported this season and at least four people have died due to the mosquito borne disease.

Earlier, the parents, who hailed from Kendrapara in Odisha, left a note in Odia, which said, "It is nobody's fault. It is our decision."

According to television reports the child had been turned away from two premier hospitals in the national capital. He was finally admitted to Batra Hospital, but it was too late to save him.

Also taking cognizance of the matter, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain has ordered issuance of show-cause notice to the two hospitals, a senior government official said.

The couple's bodies were discovered by a neighbour on the intervening night between Thursday and Friday. The couple had their arms tied together with a stole.

The police have initiated an inquest proceeding into the incident under Section 174 CrPC. No case has been registered so far in the matter.

Laxmichandra worked with a private company and the family had been living for more than one year in a two-room rented apartment at Lado Sarai, said a police official.