Andhra Pradesh: Fearing of coronavirus infection, man commits suicide

A man allegedly committed suicide as he was afraid of being infected by the novel Coronavirus in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as K Bala Krishna (50), a resident of Seshamnaidu Kandriga village under Thottambedu police limits of Chittoor district.

According to reports, the deceased feared he had contracted the novel Coronavirus, even though he has no such symptoms. Krishna locked his family in his house, went to his mother's grave yesterday. Later he allegedly killed himself by hanging himself from a tree near his mother's grave.

Meanwhile, the victim's wife Lakshmi called up her neighbors who rushed there and opened the door, however, Krishna had hanged himself from a tree near the grave by the time they reached him.

The doctor who was providing treatment to the deceased has confirmed that he was suffering from viral fever and did not show any symptoms of Coronavirus.

The victim's son Bala Murali, who works as a volunteer in the village, said his father was ill for the past few days and visited a nearby government hospital in Tirumala on February 5.

"Doctors told him that he was suffering from a viral infection and advised him to wear a mask so that the infection does not spread to others, " his son added.

On Sunday, Krishna returned to his home and told his family that he had contracted the Coronavirus. He further warned them not to come close to him.

Shockingly, he pelted stones at them and shooed them away, when family members tried to approach him.

Andhra Pradesh has not reported any cases of novel Coronavirus so far.

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