Carnatic singer Nithyashree's husband commits suicide

Popular Carnatic vocalist Nithyashree's husband Mahadevan on Thursday allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a river in the city, in a blow to her amid the annual music season, in which she is a star performer.

Mahadevan, who came in a car, jumped into the Adyar River from the Kotturpuram Bridge, a locality where the couple resided, police said quoting eyewitnesses.

Rescue services arrived at the spot and fished out the body of the 45-year old Mahadevan. The couple has two daughters.

They said the reason for Mahadevan's decision to end his life was currently under investigation.

The tragedy struck Nithyashree in the midst of the Margazhi music festival now going on in the city.

Nithyashree, who comes from an illustrious family of Carnatic musicians, is the grand daughter of late D K Pattammal, often hailed as one of the trinity of Carnatic vocalists -- the other two being late M S Subbulakshmi and the late M L Vasanthakumari.

The month-long festival offers a veritable feast for connoisseurs of Carnatic music.

Nithyashree has also sung in some Tamil movies.