Hyderabad: A woman killed her three-year-old daughter before taking her own life in Mahbubnagar on Monday, after becoming convinced that her family had contracted rabies. The incident took place at Monappagutta in Mahbubnagar town, casting a pall of grief over the locality.
Police said the woman, identified as Yashoda (36), was living with her husband Naresh and two children, Anurag and Akshara, in Kottagunj area. Trouble began when stray dogs reportedly licked peanuts and dry fruits kept outside their home to dry. The family later consumed the food, following which minor health issues surfaced.
Yashoda became deeply anxious that they might have contracted rabies. Despite Naresh arranging vaccinations for all family members and administering herbal remedies suggested by relatives, Yashoda’s fear intensified. According to her husband, she began searching online videos about rabies and even consumed local herbal concoctions in the belief that she was infected.
Fear of rabies drives Mahbubnagar woman to suicide
Compounding her anxiety, Yashoda developed a skin ailment, which led her to believe the disease was progressing. On Monday morning, while Naresh was away at work, she strangled her three-year-old daughter Akshara before hanging herself inside the bedroom.
The matter came to light when Naresh called home and his elder son Anurag answered, saying his mother was not opening the door. A neighbour who was alerted rushed to the house and discovered the bodies.
Before ending her life, Yashoda reportedly wrote on the wall urging her husband and son to continue their medication and remain cautious. Police registered a case based on a complaint filed by Yashoda’s father and began investigation. The bodies were shifted for post-mortem examination.
Officials described the case as a tragic example of fear and misinformation driving extreme decisions.
