Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Family of three dies in Varanasi pilgrimage tragedy
A family went on a trip to a holy city called Varanasi to pray.
The father, whose name was Vishal, became very sick and had to go to a hospital.
Sadly, he died there on Monday.
The mother, Jaya, and the son, Ishan, stayed in their room and did not come out.
On Tuesday morning, police found them lying on their bed.
Police think the mother and son may have taken poison, because empty wrappers were found on the floor.
The family was having money problems and could not pay back loans.
The mother and father had also been sick for many years.
Police are waiting for the family's relatives to give permission before examining the bodies.
It is a very sad story for the whole family.
A family of three died during a pilgrimage to Varanasi; the husband died of illness and his wife and son were later found dead at their homestay.
Vishal Mukherjee, 55, died on Monday from an unidentified illness at Sir Sunderlal Hospital in Banaras Hindu University.
Jaya Mukherjee, 51, and Ishan Mukherjee, 27, were found dead on Tuesday in their homestay room in Luxa, with poison wrappers on the floor.
Police said the family was not financially well off and unable to repay loans, and the husband and wife had been unwell for several years.
The family had prayed at Kashi Vishwanath temple on Sunday; post-mortems of the mother and son are awaiting consent from relatives.
- Who
- Vishal Mukherjee (55), his wife Jaya Mukherjee (51) and their son Ishan Mukherjee (27), a family originally from Calcutta living in Raigarh, Maharashtra.
- What
- The husband died of an unidentified illness, and his wife and son were found dead in their homestay room, apparently after consuming poison.
- When
- Vishal died on Monday; Jaya and Ishan were found dead on Tuesday morning, days after the family arrived for the pilgrimage.
- Where
- Varanasi - at a homestay in Luxa, and Sir Sunderlal Hospital in Banaras Hindu University.
- Why
- Police said the family was financially strained and unable to repay loans; the couple had been unwell for years, and police suspect the mother and son consumed poison.
- Destination
- Varanasi (pilgrimage)
- Family members
- Vishal Mukherjee (55), Jaya Mukherjee (51), Ishan Mukherjee (27)
- Deaths
- Husband died of illness; wife and son apparently died by consuming poison
- Location of deaths
- Homestay in Luxa; hospital at Banaras Hindu University
- Place of residence
- Raigarh, Maharashtra (originally from Calcutta; living there for two years)
- Financial condition
- Not financially well off; unable to repay loans
- Post-mortem status
- Awaiting consent of relatives