Pune: Restaurant owner commits suicide due to financial crisis amid COVID-19

Pune: Shocking series of suicides continues in Pune. In a shocking incident, a 43-year-old hotel owner committed suicide at his hotel on Thursday due to loss in business amid coronavirus imposed lockdown.

The incident came to light on Thursday. The police identified the deceased as Premnath Krishna Shetty (43), a resident of Dhayari and owner of hotel Raj. A case of suicide has been registered with Sinhagad police station. According to the police, "Premnath had been running Hotel Raj for the last seven years in Dhayari area. From last three months, the restaurant was closed and he was unable to maintain financial stability. He had to pay to his staffers and other expenses. He hanged himself from a ceiling fan."

The police added, "The incident came to light on Thursday at 9.30 am after an employee opened the restaurant to clean the premises and found him hanging. Our team rushed to the spot, and admitted him to the Reddy to hospital but before reaching hospital he lost his life. We have recorded the statement of his, his staffers and family members. They have claimed that he was depressed and restless of keeping the restaurant shut down. He has left a suicide note in which he has just mentioned that he has committed suicide and no one should be made responsible."

Pune on one hand is witnessing a surge in the spread of coronavirus cases followed by series of suicides in the city. Most of the suicides which have been committed in Pune are result of the financial loss amid the lockdown and depression.

Meanwhile, Sassoon General Hospital which is considered as the largest state government-run hospital in the state, has reported 108 cases of suicide during three months of lockdown. While 29 cases were reported in April, the figure increased to 40 in May and over 39 by mid-Jun.