A couple in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district allegedly died by suicide late Sunday night, a year after losing their only son in a road accident, police said. The bodies of Krishna Patel (48) and his wife Rama Bai (47) were found hanging from a neem tree in the courtyard of their home in Dhardei village under the Shivrinarayan police station limits. Neighbours noticed unusual silence at the house on Monday morning and alerted authorities.

Police from the Rahoud outpost reached the spot and brought the bodies down. They were sent for postmortem examination. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway. According to officials, a four-page suicide note and a video message were recovered from the scene. In the note, the couple reportedly stated that they were unable to cope with the grief of losing their 21-year-old son, Aditya Patel, who died in a road accident in 2024 in the Masturi police station area.

Krishna, a mason by profession, described his son as the “foundation of our lives” and expressed deep anguish over his death. He also mentioned that Aditya had gone to assist a village priest with temple work on the day of the accident. Police said the couple had become withdrawn over the past year. In their final messages, they reportedly stated that no one should be held responsible for their decision.

In the video recording, the couple requested that the compensation amount received after their son’s death be transferred to Krishna’s elder brothers, Kulbhara Patel and Jalbhara Patel. Officials said the saree used in the act was tied to a neem tree in the courtyard, and a nearby wall suggested it may have been used to climb. Authorities are examining the contents of the note and video as part of the investigation.