Mumbai: An assistant manager of a nationalized bank in south Mumbai jumped out of Atal Setu around 10 am on Monday. According to the police, the man drove his car to the bridge and closed it before jumping. Three police and MMRDA rescue boats are searching for him. The police also asked fishermen for help.
The man was identified as Sushant Chakravarty40. A police team from Sewree was the first to reach the spot, almost 8.5 km from the Mumbai shore. Sewree Police has jurisdiction within a 10.5km radius of Atal Setu.
“The car was locked from the inside. We found that it was registered to Chakravarty. We got his address and called his wife,” the officer said. Surveillance footage confirmed that he jumped into the sea.
“Chakravarty left his house around 8.30 am on Monday. He later texted his wife that he had arrived at the office. The wife replied that she was going to their daughter’s school for a parent-teacher meeting,” the officer said. Chakravarty hails from West Bengal. The family has been living in central Mumbai for four years. “Chakravarty lived with his wife, seven-year-old daughter and mother-in-law,” the officer said. His wife, who came to the police station, was seen crying. She said “he (Chakravarty) was tensed due to office work,” the police source added.
When he jumped, the tide was low. The bridge is about 75-80 feet above the water. “We brought the car to the police station using a tow truck. His bag was in it,” the officer added. Chakravarty drove towards Nhava Sheva and then came back from the wicket. According to the police, he paid road tax twice.
The family went to Lonavala for a picnic on Saturday and returned via Atal Setu on Sunday,” police said.
In view of several suicides and suicide attempts on Atal Setu, Navi Mumbai Police has asked MMRDA to install safety nets on the bridge. The 21.8 km long Atal Setu extends for approximately 16.5 km over the sea and 5.5 km on land.
Experts say that despite the increase in suicide rates in India over the years, awareness about sanity and the depression persisted. “It’s important to understand that not all people with depression cry all the time or seem stressed 24/7. Symptoms of depression vary from person to person,” said Dr Neena Sawant, professor of psychiatry at the society-run KEM Hospital in Parel, who last year launched an app called Saksham that allows people to assess their mental state and seek help if needed.
“Signs of depression are always visible, but others may not notice them. As a prelude suicidesome may show mild irritability, sleep disturbances or make unusual gestures,” she said.
Some depressed patients get to the point where they don’t want to “reach out” to others because they fear their feelings will be swept under the rug with comments like “things like this happen.” “What may be stressful for one person may not seem so for another, but we must allow vulnerable people to express themselves. As a first step, we need to create a mechanism in workplaces, schools, universities and homes that gives people the freedom to express themselves,” Dr. Sawant added.
Suicide Hotline: MPower Mental Health Hotline 1800-120-820050, Vandrewala Foundation | 9999666555, I-Call (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) | 9152987821 (Monday-Saturday 10:00-20:00)