A government school headmaster in Udupi district died by suicide early Tuesday, reportedly due to severe financial difficulties, police confirmed.
The deceased, identified as Kubera Dharma Nayak (49), also known locally as Kuberappa, was serving as the headmaster at Sulgodu Government Higher Primary School in Hallihole village.
Authorities said the tragic incident occurred near Kamalashile bridge, where Nayak was discovered hanging from a tree. His raincoat and motorbike were found parked close by.
Originally hailing from Chitradurga, Nayak had been residing in government quarters in Hosangady along with his wife and three daughters.
He began his career with the education department in 2002 and was promoted to the post of headmaster in 2022.
A senior investigating officer stated that preliminary findings suggest Nayak was burdened by multiple debts, including loans from a chit fund scheme. Recently, a loan-related document linked to these dues had been sent to the Byndoor Area Education Office, possibly compounding his stress.
Following the discovery, officials from the Byndoor Zonal Education Office, local law enforcement, and members of the Primary School Teachers’ Association arrived at the scene to conduct inquiries.
Based on a complaint filed by Nayak’s wife, a case has been registered at the Shankaranarayana police station.
Authorities are continuing the investigation to understand the full circumstances that led to the incident.