Couple, son found dead in Muvattupuzha river, search for missing daughter

A man, his wife and their toddler son were found dead in the Muvattupuzha River near Piravom over two days in a suspected mass suicide, while a search was made for the couple’s elder daughter, who is feared missing in the waters.

The deceased have been identified as Narayanan (43), a native of Palakkad, his wife Viji, a 40-year-old visually impaired woman, and their two-year-old son.

Narayanan’s body was fished out by the police with the help of Fire and Rescue Service personnel from near the Mulakkulam-Paittakuzhi bridge on Saturday (June 27, 2026), a day after the bodies of a woman and a boy were found near the spot by some local fishermen. After police attempts to contact Narayanan after the recovery of his wife and son failed, a search was launched in the waters.

The search for the couple’s missing daughter was called off on Saturday night due to poor lighting and will resume on Sunday (June 28, 2026), police sources said. They added that the preliminary investigation pointed to a suspected case of murder-suicide linked to financial distress.

Narayanan and his family were living in a rented house in Kothamangalam and had reportedly approached the police seeking financial assistance to pay the rent.

The family was to move into new accommodation furnished with the help of the police. The Piravom police have registered a case of unnatural death and have started an investigation into the incident.

The bodies were handed over to the couple’s relatives after the autopsy.

(Those in distress or suicidal may seek help and advice on any of the following numbers: DISHA – 1056, 0471-2552056, State Health Helpline 104, Maithri – 0484-2540530, Thanal Suicide Prevention Center – 060095-27000

Published – 27 Jun 2026 21:24 IST