Woman kills three-month-old daughter before ending own life in Chennai

A 25-year-old woman allegedly killed her three-month-old daughter before taking her own life at their residence in Aminjikarai on Friday (June 12, 2026). The deceased have been identified as Dharini and her child Shreya.

Dharini’s husband, Praveen, 29, who runs a tattoo studio in Nungambakkam, lived with his wife, their daughter Shreya, his mother, Veena, 54, and his mother-in-law, Radhika, 51, in an apartment in Ayyavu Colony, Aminjikarai.

On Friday, Praveen left for work as usual. Later that evening, Radhika took her other daughter, Kavya, to a private hospital, after she complained of stomach pain. When they returned home that night, they found the bodies of Dharani and Shreya. They immediately raised an alarm, prompting family members and neighbours to rush the mother and daughter to a private hospital. They were later referred to KMC Hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead. The Aminjikarai police have registered a case and are investigating the incident.

Preliminary inquiries by the police revealed that Dharini had been undergoing treatment for depression since childhood and that her condition had deteriorated after the birth of her daughter. Investigators are awaiting the post-mortem report to determine whether the infant died due to strangulation or poisoning.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).