Balasore: A couple died reportedly by suicide after being unable to repay loans in Odisha’s Balasore district today. The deceased were identified as Kashinath Roul and wife Kanak from Pudadiha village under Rupsa police limits in the district.

Kashinath was eking out a living by selling food items in trains. But when train services were suspended in view of Covid-19 pandemic, Kashinath lost his livelihood. Finding no option he took loans from some private finance companies in order to start a new business.

However, Kashinath’s business plans could not take off due to some reasons. His entire loan amount was spent on daily expenses of his family.

A villager said a few days back an agent of a private financial company reached Kashinath’s house and demanded him to repay the loan. When Kashinath expressed his inability to repay the loan, the agent scolded him. Even the private financial company agent asked Kashinath to end his life if he could not repay, the villager alleged.

As Kashinath and his wife could not take the humiliation any more they ended their lives by consuming poison, another villager said.

After receiving information, police reached the spot today and sent the bodies for post mortem. Investigation into the case is on.

The couple’s children had been staying away from their parents.