Berhampur: An Ayush practitioner at the Khajuripada Community Health Centre under Nuagada block in Gajapati district allegedly committed suicide on Saturday.

The body of Subodh Kumar Rath, 45, the Ayush practitioner, was recovered from his residence inside the health centre at 11am.

"The body of Rath was lying on the floor of his quarters, and there was froth coming out of his mouth. We have seized the body and sent it for post-mortem to Paralakhemundi," said officer in charge of Khajuripada outpost in Seranga police limits Jagadish Chandra Panda.

Rath, a native of Polsara in Ganjam district, had been working in the health centre since 2008 and was staying alone in his quarters.

His wife and 10-year-old daughter used to stay in Jeypore in Koraput.

At present, the doctor's wife and daughter, along with his elder brother and sister-in-law, are on a pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi, a health centre official said.

"The doctor had been in mental stress for the past one week, perhaps because of family problems," said another staff member.

The employees went to Rath's quarters after he did not turn up to the centre till 11am. "After repeated knocks, he did not open the door. Then some employees and local people opened it, which was not locked from inside, and found his body lying on the floor. They immediately informed the police," said Panda.

The reason behind Rath taking this extreme step is yet to be ascertained, said Panda. "We have informed his father and some other relatives," he said, adding that the police had seized a pesticide packet from the quarters and suspected that Rath might have taken some amount of it.

"Till now, we have not found any suicide note. But, we have seized his mobile phone, which may give us some clue," said Panda.