'Depression due to work pressure': Software engineer electrocutes self in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: A software engineer wrapped himself with a live power and self-electrocuted while he was alone at his house in Thazhambur off Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) on Thursday night.

His wife, who returned home from temple, found him lying unconscious with wires wrapped around him, police said.

The victim, Karthikeyan, 38, a native of Theni, had been employed at a software firm in Pallavaram for the past 15 years. He lived with his wife, K Jayarani, and their two children, aged 10 and 8 years.

Police said he complained of depression due to work pressure and was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Medavakkam for the past two months.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Jayarani left for Thirunallaru temple with her friends from the self-help group. She had left her children with her mother, leaving Karthikeyan alone at home.

When she returned on Thursday night, she found the door locked from the inside. Since repeated knocks did not elicit any response, she used an alternate key and opened the door, only to find him lying unconscious.

He had put on undergarments and had wrapped his entire body with a power cable, which was connected to a main junction box in the hall. Panicked upon seeing this, she alerted the neighbours, who informed Thazhambur police.

The police secured his body and sent it for post-mortem to Chromepet govt hospital. Police have registered a case of unnatural death and are probing if there are other reasons behind his extreme step.

Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on Tamil Nadu's health helpline 104 and Sneha's suicide prevention helpline (044-24640050).