An engaged couple, both employees of the State Bank of India, was found dead hours apart at separate locations in Karnataka and Kerala, prompting police to examine their mobile phones as part of the investigation.

P. Anushree, 25, a native of Poochakkad in Kasaragod, was found dead at her residence in Karnataka on Wednesday morning, while her fiancé, V. Amal, 26, was found dead later at a lodge near Ernakulam North railway station in Kerala.

The couple had got engaged about two months ago at Anushree’s home in Poochakkad and were scheduled to get married on December 26.

Anushree, who was working with the SBI in Karnataka, had reportedly been on duty until Tuesday night. When her sister called her later that night, Anushree reportedly told her that she had been speaking to Amal over the phone.

However, when she failed to respond to repeated calls from her family on Wednesday morning, they alerted neighbours, who went to her residence and found her dead.

Hunsur police conducted an inquest, following which the body was sent for a post-mortem examination. Her body was later brought to her native place in Poochakkad on Wednesday evening, where the last rites were performed.

Amal, meanwhile, was employed at the SBI’s MG Road branch in Ernakulam and was staying with friends in Palarivattom. After learning about Anushree’s death, he checked into a lodge near Ernakulam North railway station at around 8.45 am on Wednesday and shared his location with his friends.

When he stopped responding to their calls, his friends went to the lodge. After receiving no response from inside, they forced open the door and found him dead.

Ernakulam North police conducted an inquest and shifted the body to the General Hospital mortuary.

Police said the mobile phones of both Anushree and Amal would be examined in detail as part of the investigation into the deaths.

Anushree is survived by her father K. Chandran, who runs the Malabar Gas Distribution Agency in Nileshwaram, her mother Reena and sister Sreelakshmi. Amal is survived by his father Sudhakaran, mother A. Anitha and sister Nakshatra.

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