A domestic dispute allegedly led a migrant woman and her three children to consume pesticide at their home in Mallu Kadarabad village of Kapurthala district on Monday night. One of the children died during treatment at Civil Hospital, while the woman and her two other children were referred to Government Medical College, Amritsar, after their condition deteriorated. Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

According to Lovekush Kumar, a resident of Mallu Kadarabad village, he returned home late at night after working in the fields and found his wife, Santosh Devi, vomiting. A bottle of pesticide was lying nearby and the children were in a semi-conscious state. He immediately called the 108 ambulance service and rushed his wife and children to Civil Hospital, Kapurthala.

The victims were identified as Santosh Devi, her eight-year-old daughter Amrita, six-year-old daughter Khushi, and her two-year-old son. All four were admitted to the emergency ward, where they were treated by Dr Karanpreet Singh.

During treatment, one of the children died. As the condition of the remaining three — Santosh Devi and her two children — was critical, doctors provided primary treatment before referring them to Government Medical College, Amritsar, for advanced care.

Hospital authorities informed the police about the incident. SHO Ranjit Singh of the Sadar police station said an investigation has been initiated to ascertain the circumstances that led to the alleged poisoning. The condition of the three referred patients was reported to be critical.