A 37-year-old goldsmith committed suicide by consuming cyanide-laced soft drinks, while his two minor sons, who were also given the drinks, are undergoing treatment at the Government Hospital in Coimbatore.

Senthil Kumar, a resident of Telugupalayam in Coimbatore, bought a bottle of soft drinks last night and equally distributed the contents among his two sons and himself, while his wife was away for work at a flour mill.

The children, aged seven and three, began to cry loudly when they saw their father vomiting. Neighbours rushed them to the Government Hospital. Senthil Kumar died at the hospital, but the condition of the children is stable. They are being treated.

Financial burden was said to be the reason behind this extreme step, as Senthil Kumar had failed to deliver gold ornaments to a person from whom he had taken over Rs.1 lakh for the purpose. A suicide note was recovered from the house.