HYDERABAD: The shocking news of Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s death claimed the lives of a staggering number of 16 persons and impaired the health of two at different places in the State today.
While eight persons died of cardiac arrest, an equal number committed suicide. Two others, who attempted suicide, were hospitalised in a serious condition.
The maximum number of four deaths occurred in Guntur district, followed by East Godavari (3), Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Prakasam (2 each), and Medak, Karimnagar and Kadapa (1 each).
In the State capital, N Suresh Kumar (42), a bank employee at Kushaiguda, hanged himself to death on coming to know of the death of the chief minister, his family members said. At Patelnagar in Amberpet, a private employee, Yadagiri (40), died of cardiac arrest while watching the news of YSR’s death on the TV.
At Marpally in Rangareddy district, Narayana (28), a farmer, hanged himself to death. He had been glued to the TV set since yesterday closely following the developments. This morning, when he lost hope of his beloved leader’s safe return, he told his wife Neeraja that he was going to the field for agricultural work but did not return for long. His family members, who went in search of him, found Narayana hanging from an iron beam of the shed on the field.
At Jagadgirigutta, a 35-year-old man, Srinivas (35), suffered a cardiac attack minutes after the news of Rajasekhara Reddy’s death was flashed on the television.
According to a report from Sangareddy in Medak district, Ammana Pochaiah (40) of Kothapalli in Daulatabad mandal collapsed in front of the TV set on which he was watching the developments, and died of cardiac arrest.
In Karimnagar district a 66-year-old farmer, Battini Yellaiah, died of heart attack at Potharam (S) village in Husnabad mandal while watching the news on the TV.
In Nalgonda district, a 55-year-old farmer, D Venkat Narasaiah, attempted suicide by taking poison. He had not touched food ever since the chief minister went missing the previous morning.
He was shifted to the government hospital at Miryalaguda and is said to be in a serious condition.
In Kadapa district, a 55-year-old woman, Parvatamma, died from shock at Punnapurallepalle in Yerraguntla mandal.
In Prakasam district, Kona Subba Rao of Donakonda village in Ardhaveedu mandal, died of heart attack while watching the death news on the TV. At Kamballapadu village in Podili mandal in the same district, K Velingonda Rayudu (32) committed suicide by hanging himself. In a suicide note he said he was unable to come to terms with YSR’s death.
Guntur district reported four deaths. Karamsetty Pedda Bhikshalu of Vadlamanu village in Tulluru mandal, Lakshmaiah of Kunchenapalli in Mangalagiri mandal and Krishnam Raju of Dachepalli mandal, all died of heart attack on learning of the news of the chief minister’s death while watching the TV.
There were two attempts of suicide in the district, one turning out to be fatal.
Yogi Reddy of Anjanapadu village in Gurazala mandal committed suicide by hanging himself.
At Tikkareddypalem, Machineni Venkata Krishna consumed poison and was admitted to the Guntur General Hospital in a serious condition.