In Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, a 33-year-old real estate agent overwhelmed by debt poisoned his pet Labrador and then took his own life.
Nikhil Arora resided alone with his dog, named Premi, in a rental unit.
Authorities reported that Arora’s finances worsened due to costs from his parents’ medical care, leading him to sell his home and accumulate substantial loans, which caused severe emotional distress.
On Wednesday, Arora failed to appear at a friend’s home for a planned meal. Concerned friends visited his residence and discovered the door secured from within.
They alerted the police, who forced entry and found Arora and his dog deceased side by side. Investigators retrieved buttermilk containers and an empty sulfas bottle from the scene.
Officials stated that Arora dissolved a sulfas tablet in buttermilk, fed it to his dog first, and then ingested it himself.
Neighbors noted Arora’s deep affection for his pet and suggested he might have acted out of concern for the animal’s welfare after his passing.
The police are conducting an inquiry, and post-mortem examinations have been ordered for both bodies, according to officials.
