'Ek darr sa lagta hai': Year after family of five found dead in South Delhi flat, tragedy still haunts residents

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Residents of Rangpuri village in Southwest Delhi’s Vasant Kunj still live in fear a year after a haunting tragedy in a local flat, with some avoiding going out after dark. The case, involving a man and his four daughters, has disturbed the community due to the family's solitary life and financial troubles, The Indian Express reported.

Repeated knocking, strong foul smell, and flies at a locked apartment in Chauhan Mohalla led to the discovery of a deceased family inside, a tragedy reported in Indian media.

Heerlal Sharma, 46, and his four daughters lived in C-4 in the Chauhan Mohalla area of Rangpuri village. They were tenants, renting the modest two-room space on the third floor of a residential building.

The neighbours became concerned after the family had not been seen for a while. Their alarm grew when a strong, foul odour began to emanate from the sealed flat, which was also swarming with flies.

With the door locked from the inside, police had to break it open — and made a grim discovery. On September 28 last year, Heeralal and his four physically challenged daughters — Neetu, 26, Nikki, 24, Neeru, 23, and Nidhi, 20 — were found dead in two separate rooms.

As per the report, there were no signs of a struggle. The four women were found lying together on the same bed, while Heeralal was discovered in a separate room, appearing to be asleep at the time of death. All the bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition.

Following the discovery, the police initiated an investigation and have since explored various angles. Initial reports suggested that the family may have died after consuming "sulfas" tablets, leading to a possible suicide pact, but occult practices were also considered as a red kalaya (sacred thread) tied around their waists was found. One year after the incident, the cause of death remains unconfirmed, as the viscera reports are still pending.

“The scene in the room reminded us of the 2018 Burari deaths, where 11 members of the same family died under mysterious circumstances,” a police officer, who was among the first team members to reach the spot after the PCR call, was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.

However, investigators later ruled out any occult angle. “We did not find evidence of occult practices being performed… The deaths appear to have stemmed from Heerlal’s depression, reportedly due to the condition of his daughters,” the officer added.

As per the report, Heeralal had worked as a carpenter at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) in Vasant Kunj for nearly 28 years, earning around Rs 25,000 a month.

But after his wife died of cancer in 2023, police said Heerlal went into shock. “He had to take care of his daughters, which also forced him to quit his job last January,” the officer was quoted as saying.

“With no income and no savings, he was struggling. We believe it was a suicide pact — he convinced his daughters to consume the poison. That is perhaps why he bought some sweets and cold drinks, to make the bitter taste of the poison a little milder,” the officer added.

The bodies were sent for post-mortem, and forensic examinations were carried out. Statements were recorded from Heeralal’s brothers, family members, relatives, and friends — those he frequently interacted with. Police was quoted as saying that none of them had anticipated that he would take such drastic action, though they did acknowledge that he had been facing personal struggles.

Meanwhile, the flat was disinfected, and key evidence was collected. The premises were sealed as police-initiated inquest proceedings. While no foul play was suspected, the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths remained uncertain.

A year later

The tragedy has left residents of Rangpuri village unsettled, with many reporting a lingering sense of fear. Some tenants have moved out of the building, and those who remain are hesitant to be out after dark. However, the flat was no longer sealed.

A woman, who wished ro remain anonymous, told The Indian Express that C-4 was unsealed almost four months after the incident.

“The owner performed rituals in the house and began looking for tenants. Two people rented the house but left within a few days. Then a couple moved in, but they also shifted elsewhere within a week. Now, we’ve heard that some men have been staying there,” the woman added.

Caretaker Sonu, who lives on the ground floor, confirmed that the flat was reopened after the police investigation concluded.

A senior police officer told The Indian Express: “Unlike the Burari case, circumstantial evidence suggested there was no occult practice involved. The glasses and drinks indicated they consumed ‘sulfas’ tablets and died in their sleep. The post-mortem reports confirmed death due to poisoning, but the actual cause can only be confirmed after the viscera reports, which are still awaited, arrive.”