A woman and her 20-month-old son were found dead in a forest at Sisne Rural Municipality-6 in Rukum on Saturday. The deceased have been identified as a local Renuka KC Shah, 30, and her son Atiam.

Atiam was found hanging from a tree branch in the forest, around three kilometers away from the house, while mother Renuka was lying dead on the ground, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Loknath Timsina.

There were deep stains around Renuka's neck as well. So she might have fallen on to the ground after the rope with which she hung snapped all of a sudden, said Timsina. The locals had informed the police after they found both mother and son dead while collecting firewood.

On January 10, Renuka had left her house for Nepalgunj for a medical checkup, said the locals.

Preliminary police investigations show that Renuka hung her son before hanging herself. Additional investigations were on, said Timsina.