In the absence of his parents, Vijay tied an end of the rope he put around his neck to a window while standing on a gas cylinder when he slipped and strangulated himself, the police said.

Vijay's sister, who was present in the house, shouted for help and neighbours took the boy to a hospital where he was declared dead, they said. The sister told the police that Vijay was attempting an experiment to see whether Shaktiman would save him if he tried to hang himself.

The serial, highly popular among kids, has reportedly prompted many young children to try dangerous stunts in the hope that Shaktiman would come to save them resulting in several accidents in recent times.