In a tragic incident that has shocked Madhya Pradesh&rsquo;s Sagar district, four members of a family were found dead in what police suspect to be a suicide pact early Saturday morning in Tehar village.
The deceased have been identified as Manohar Lodhi (45), his mother Phulrani (70), daughter Shivani (18), and son Aniket (16). Preliminary investigations suggest the family consumed celphos tablets, a lethal pesticide, sometime around 3:00 a.m.
According to officials, the tragedy came to light when Manohar&rsquo;s brother, Nandram Singh Lodhi, who lives on the upper floor of the family's farmhouse, heard sounds of severe coughing and vomiting from the floor below. He rushed downstairs and found all four in critical condition. Neighbours were immediately alerted, and emergency medical help was called.
Despite rapid efforts, Phulrani and Aniket were declared dead on the spot. Shivani passed away at the Khurai Civil Hospital, and Manohar died while being transported to the district hospital in Sagar.
Khurai Urban Police Station In-charge Yogendra Singh Dangi confirmed that the victims appeared to have ingested celphos, based on early medical reports. &ldquo;The substance used seems to be celphos. We are investigating all possible angles, including any recent distress within the family,&rdquo; he said.
Police sources noted that Manohar&rsquo;s wife was not present at the time of the incident, having gone to her maternal home a few days prior. The family lived in a secluded farmhouse, along with another brother who is intellectually disabled. Two other siblings reside within the village itself.
No suicide note has been recovered yet, and investigators have not ruled out the possibility of a coordinated suicide pact. Post-mortem examinations are being conducted, and statements from family members and neighbours have been recorded to determine the chain of events leading up to the deaths.
This is the second such incident in Madhya Pradesh in recent weeks. Last month, four members of a family in Dewas district also ended their lives using a poisonous substance, reportedly due to social pressures related to a marriage within the family.
Celphos (aluminium phosphide) poisoning remains a critical public health issue in rural India. Its high fatality rate over 60 per cent and lack of a known antidote make it especially dangerous. Immediate medical treatment is essential, but survival chances decline rapidly once symptoms appear.
Authorities have urged the public to be vigilant and report any signs of distress in families or individuals, and discussions around regulation and restriction of such toxic substances have been reignited following this incident. [Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

Four of a Family Die in Suspected Suicide

Celphos poisoning suspected in tragic deaths of four in Madhya Pradesh’s Tehar village

Four of a Family Die in Suspected Suicide in Sagar

Celphos poisoning suspected in tragic deaths of four in Madhya Pradesh’s Tehar village

July 26, 2025 | 20:51 IST