A tragic incident in Telangana’s Hanumakonda district has left a village in shock after a 26-year-old woman, Farhat, and her two daughters—Umera (8) and Ayesha (6)—were found dead in a swimming pool operated by their own family. The bodies were discovered on Thursday morning in Punnela village, near the Warangal–Khammam highway, prompting grief as well as suspicion among relatives and locals.
According to initial findings, the family had visited the pool on Wednesday night as part of their routine. It is believed that during this time, the woman and her children fell into the water. Despite attempts by family members and nearby residents to rescue them, all three were declared dead. The bodies were later sent for post-mortem examination, and police began an investigation after arriving at the scene.
Farhat, who was reportedly pregnant with her third child, had been living with her husband, Mohammad Azharuddin, who initially claimed that the deaths were accidental drownings. However, this version of events has been strongly contested by the victim’s family.
Farhat’s father alleged foul play, accusing Azharuddin of murdering his daughter and grandchildren and attempting to disguise the incident as an accident. He pointed to ongoing domestic disputes between the couple, particularly concerning issues related to their children.
As the investigation progressed, authorities began exploring a possible motive linked to gender bias. Preliminary inputs suggest that Azharuddin may have been under pressure regarding the unborn child, fearing it might also be a girl. Investigators are examining claims that he had earlier pressured Farhat to terminate pregnancies based on suspected gender, and that tensions escalated when she refused to do so again.
Police are now probing whether the visit to the swimming pool was premeditated and used as a cover to carry out the alleged crime. A murder case has been registered, and officials are also looking into possible violations related to illegal sex determination and forced abortion practices.
The incident has created a tense atmosphere in the area, with police deployment increased to maintain order. Authorities have stated that further clarity will depend on forensic findings and detailed interrogation, as they continue to investigate all possible angles surrounding the deaths.
