A 40-year-old man in Tamil Nadu electrocuted his two children aged 14 and 12 before taking his own life, following a period of depression after his wife left the family six months ago.The incident occurred at Saveriyarpuram near Pudukottai in Tuticorin district.

Police stated the man was distraught after his wife moved out and started living with another man, leading to his withdrawal from work as a truck driver and taking up painting jobs.

The children, students at a private school, were found dead on a cot with electric wires bound to their bodies after neighbours reported the locked door.The father, 75 years old, was sleeping outside.Post-mortem examinations are pending, and a case has been registered for further investigation.

This incident adds to recent cases of minors' deaths in Tamil Nadu, including a sexual assault murder of a nine-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl's death linked to luring with a biscuit.Suicide prevention helplines are highlighted as preventable tragedies.