Bhubaneswar, June 23: Police found bodies of a woman and her two daughters from their house at Niranjanpur near Jatni on the city outskirts this evening.

Though the police are yet to ascertain the exact cause behind their deaths, it is suspected that the woman might have killed herself after killing her two daughters.

A senior police official said that while the body of Puspanjali Bhujabal, 35, was hanging from the ceiling, those of her elder daughter Subhasmita, 5, and younger daughter Rashmita (three-and-a-half years old) were lying on the floor.

The police said the incident took place while Bhubana Bhujabal, the husband of the deceased woman, had been to the market. , a Bhubana is a cashew nut seller. “When Bhubana reached the house, he found the door open. As he entered the house, he saw the bodies and informed the police,” said a police official.

The police said the couple were married in 2001 and acute poverty might have forced the woman to take the drastic step. “We suspect that the woman might have committed suicide after poisoning her two daughters. A scientific team is examining the spot,” said a police official.

Further investigation revealed that Bhubana had been staying in the rented accommodation after being separated from his brothers few years ago. “We would ask the neighbours to ascertain whether their conjugal life had been under stress due to poverty. Bhuban used to earn a meagre amount, which might have forced the woman to take the drastic step,” said a police official.

Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said they had started an investigation into the case.

“The bodies will be sent for post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause behind the deaths,” said Bhoi.