Mysuru: A debt-ridden farmer committed suicide after he suffered huge losses due to crop failure on Sunday April 24 here in Chamarajanagar district. Farmer’s wife shocked with her husband’s decision doused her children, Preethi and Priya, with kerosene and set them ablaze before torching herself.

The residents of Honnahalli village, Shivannaiah (45), his wife Kanya (35), children Preethi (8) and Priya (6) are the deceased.

Reportedly the farmer had taken loan to cultivate commercial crops such as chilli and banana. Besides, he took an advance payment to drill a borewell to irrigate the crops. But, severe drought resulted in depletion of the water table as well as drying up of the borewell.

Shivannaiah, who was already in distress over crop-failure, was also pressurised by the moneylenders. Shivannaiah and his wife used to have frequent quarrels over financial problems.

On Saturday, distressed Shivannaiah left the house and allegedly committed suicide in his farm. The body was found on Sunday by his wife. Shocked by seeing her husband’s body, she rushed home and killed the children before committing suicide.

The local residents tried to rescue them but all efforts went in vain.

Chamarajanagar rural police have registered a case.