Seven members of a family, including three children, were found dead on Friday in a house at a private poultry farm in Rajapet Mandal, about 85 km from Hyderabad, The Hindu reported. The police reached the farm around 6.30 am and found all seven dead in the living room.

The deceased were identified as Balaraju, his wife Tirumala, their children Sravani, Chintu and Bunny, and Tirumala’s parents, B Bala Narsimha and Bharatamma. Unidentified police officers told The Hindu that Balaraju was from Siddipet district and worked as a labourer at the poultry farm. His family had been staying there for a month.

Local residents and the farm owner alleged that poison was mixed into the family’s food on Thursday evening. It is not clear who the accused could be.

Yadadri Deputy Commissioner of Police Ramachandra Reddy said the police were investigating other possible reasons for the family’s death, including financial crisis and family disputes.

Reddy said the police were awaiting the autopsies to determine the cause of death. They have asked for assistance from the Crime Laboratory Ultimate Evidence System, a detective team of the Hyderabad Police.