Woman feeds pesticide to 3 daughters before consuming it, all 4 die

Police say seven-year-old daughter manages to alert neighbours, but succumbs during treatment a day later 

PTI, Shahdol, Jun 01, 2026 : A 32-year-old woman and her three daughters died after allegedly consuming a pesticide in Madhya Pradesh’s Shahdol district, police said. 

The incident occurred in Hirwar village under the Papaundh police station limits in the Beohari area, about 125 km from the Shahdol district headquarters, an official said on Sunday. 

Anita Singh (32) allegedly administered the pesticide to her three daughters before consuming it herself on Saturday night. Her daughters, Ritika (4) and Krishnakumari (2), died soon after, Papaundh station house officer Brijendra Mishra told PTI. 

Her other daughter, Arpita (7), succumbed during treatment on Sunday, he said. The SHO said the eldest daughter managed to come out of the house and alert neighbours, who rushed all four to Beohari hospital.  

“Doctors declared the woman and her two younger daughters dead on arrival, while Arpita died on Sunday,” he added. 

Mishra said the eldest girl had told neighbours that her mother had given the children the pesticide. He said the child also told neighbours that her mother set fire to documents, clothes, photographs and grains stored in the house after administering the poisonous substance. 

“The girl was unable to explain why her mother took the step,” Mishra said. The SHO said the police recovered a packet of aluminium phosphide from the spot. According to a preliminary investigation, Anita lived separately from her in-laws with her children. 

Her husband, a driver, had gone to Hyderabad and was not at home when the incident occurred. Police are recording statements of the woman’s relatives and have registered a case, police said.