Chennai: A day after the high drama and dramatic suicide attempts on Sri Aurobindo Ashram premises in Puducherry, two sisters and their mother, all devotees of the Ashram, committed suicide by jumping into the sea on Thursday.

The fishermen rescued four others of the family, who had also jumped into the sea to end life. The incident happened after the deadline given to them by the Supreme Court to vacate the Ashram premises expired on Tuesday.

The family had been involved in a prolonged legal battle with the Ashram, which they eventually lost. On Wednesday, one of the sisters, Hemlatha, 39, attempted suicide but failed.

On Thursday morning, fishermen noticed the family venturing into the sea together. Santhidevi Prasad, 78, and two of her daughters Arunashree, 52 and Rajyashree, 49 drowned.

The fishermen were able to rescue the head of the family, Prasad, 86, and three other daughters named Jayashree, 54, Nivedia, 42 and Hemalatha, 39. In an attempt to end life on Wednesday, Hemlatha, who had climbed up to the terrace of a building, was rescued by a policeman.

Posing as a reporter, the policeman had called her outside and taken her to the police station along with four of her sisters who were staying in the ashram.

The dispute between the sisters and the Ashram Trust can be traced to 2002 when the ashram took disciplinary action against Hemalata for misconduct after an inquiry by a retired District Judge appointed by Madras HC.

The Supreme Court on December 9 directed them to vacate the ashram within a week.