Dhanbad, July 7: A young couple were found lying unconscious off the GT Road near Nirsa police station this morning.

The youngsters consumed poison as they had apparently tied the knots against the wishes of their families. While the condition of the 17-year-old girl is serious, the youth, Mahesh Prasad Rawani, has regained consciousness after both of them were admitted to Patliputra Medical College and Hospital.

The officer in charge of Nirsa police station, R.R. Minz, said that they were picked up by a mobile police van and sent to the hospital. Later, their whereabouts were established. Both are residents of Sijua colliery area in Jharia coalfield, about 17km from here. While the girl stays at Shyam Bazaar, Mahesh stays at No. 6 Sijua colliery in Tata-Jharia colliery division, both under Jogta police station area.

The girl fell in love with Mahesh, who has a cosmetics shop in Sijua. Being a frequent visitor to the shop, their relationship grew stronger and after four years they married secretly. They used to stay at their respective places as their families were opposed to the affair. Recently, the girl’s parents threatened to file a case against Mahesh’s family for which the couple took the step last night, police sources said.