Sardar bridge is #1 suicide point
Fire brigade figures show that 498 men compared to 95 women have plunged into the Sabarmati since April 1, 2007; of these 141 jumped off Sardar Bridge; experts call for fencing all the bridges
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, January 28, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20120128201201280023068297c5230a2/Sardar-bridge-is-1-suicide-point.html)
More people jump to death from Sardar Bridge than any other place and a majority of them are young men, in the age group 20-30. While fire brigade personnel have been able to save 91 people in the last five years they are yet to receive any accolade officially. These are some of the figures that have emerged following a query under Right to Information Act with Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES).
As many as 141 people jumped off Sardar Bridge and 103 off Vivekanand (Ellis) Bridge in the last five years, the figures show. The numbers have shot up ever since entry to Kankaria has got restricted due to the development of the lakefront.
The figures made available by AFES show that more Amdavadi men throw in towel, or life, than women as 498 men have jumped in the Sabarmati since April 1, 2007 compared to only 95 women in the same period. Of these, 412 men died while the AFES personnel saved 57. Interestingly, more than one third women attempting suicide — 37 to be precise — were saved.
While fire brigade personnel stretched themselves and sometimes even risked their lives to save many of those who attempted suicide, they are yet to get any official commendation. “We don’t strive for it, either. It (saving lives) has become part of our job though we would like to focus on other emergencies,” says a senior fire officer, requesting anonymity.
Ambedkar Bridge is comparatively new, yet it, too, has become a favourite suicide stretch as 61 people have plunged from there as compared to 82 from Gandhi Bridge.
NO KIDS SAVED
There have been several cases of couples tying themselves before plunging to death or women jumping with kids. Sadly, the fire brigade personnel have not been able to save kids while many women have been rescued, says Chief Fire Officer M F Dastoor.
“Often they are in such a rage that they don’t even check if there is enough water where they are jumping. We have come across cases when people have landed in mud or on land and instead of drowning broken their limbs. All we can do in such cases is to pull them out and send them for medical treatment.
“We don’t give up easily. There are occasions when we spend three or even four days to trace a body and extricate it from unlikeliest of the places... but it all comes in the package. A life saved is our award,” Dastoor said.
PUT FENCE ON BRIDGES
Sociologists, psychologist as well as the fire brigade personnel think that some of these suicides could have been prevented.
Says leading psychologist Bhalchandra Joshi, “Figures are stunning. You have looked at only the suicides committed by plunge in the river. If you take into account other suicides the situation is alarming. We talk of growth and are proud of it, but we do not talk of human development.”
Dr Joshi favoured putting up fence on the bridges on the Sabarmati so that people will not be able to jump off them easily. “Put nets on the bridges on the river the way they have been installed along the Narmada canal. Though this is not the real solution, it can definitely bring down the numbers as passersby will spot anyone trying to climb up the net and hence prevent him or her from jumping into the river,” he said.
Anju Sheth, founder member of Saath, an NGO that works on suicide prevention, echoed the idea. “Fencing at these prime spots is needed. Usually, those who come to jump off these bridges, look around for opportunities and they jump off when nobody is around. It is easy due to their (bridges’) accessibility. Security must be deployed at the four corners,” she said.
‘PERSONAL LIFE IN TURMOIL’
Sociologist Gaurang Jani said the trend of more men killing themselves was not surprising. “The situation is the same all over the state except in Saurashtra where more women commit suicide than men.”
Dr Jani attributed the higher percentage of younger people committing suicide to the stress in personal life. “In most of the cases, they already suffer from communication gap with their families. Frustration in love, education, career or joblessness only complicates the matter for them. It puts a lot of pressure on them and makes them take the extreme step,” he said.
Education institutes should make the youth understand the importance of human life and repercussions of suicide on the surviving family members and friends. Even religious and political leaders have a role to play here as youth look at them as role model, Dr Jani said.
‘COUNSELLING NEEDED’
Counselling of the individuals as well as families is important. Elder should try to understand other members of the family and not always impose their will on them, Dr Joshi added.
Sheth strongly advocated message boards with positive lines at vantage points to help someone see hope. She said, “All this happens in just a few second. If there are some motivating posters, people may rethink and decide not to take such a drastic step. Whoever commits suicide, has a wish to die and also a wish to live. It is the government’s job to ensure that they think about the latter.”
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, January 28, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20120128201201280023068297c5230a2/Sardar-bridge-is-1-suicide-point.html)
More people jump to death from Sardar Bridge than any other place and a majority of them are young men, in the age group 20-30. While fire brigade personnel have been able to save 91 people in the last five years they are yet to receive any accolade officially. These are some of the figures that have emerged following a query under Right to Information Act with Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES).
As many as 141 people jumped off Sardar Bridge and 103 off Vivekanand (Ellis) Bridge in the last five years, the figures show. The numbers have shot up ever since entry to Kankaria has got restricted due to the development of the lakefront.
The figures made available by AFES show that more Amdavadi men throw in towel, or life, than women as 498 men have jumped in the Sabarmati since April 1, 2007 compared to only 95 women in the same period. Of these, 412 men died while the AFES personnel saved 57. Interestingly, more than one third women attempting suicide — 37 to be precise — were saved.
While fire brigade personnel stretched themselves and sometimes even risked their lives to save many of those who attempted suicide, they are yet to get any official commendation. “We don’t strive for it, either. It (saving lives) has become part of our job though we would like to focus on other emergencies,” says a senior fire officer, requesting anonymity.
Ambedkar Bridge is comparatively new, yet it, too, has become a favourite suicide stretch as 61 people have plunged from there as compared to 82 from Gandhi Bridge.
NO KIDS SAVED
There have been several cases of couples tying themselves before plunging to death or women jumping with kids. Sadly, the fire brigade personnel have not been able to save kids while many women have been rescued, says Chief Fire Officer M F Dastoor.
“Often they are in such a rage that they don’t even check if there is enough water where they are jumping. We have come across cases when people have landed in mud or on land and instead of drowning broken their limbs. All we can do in such cases is to pull them out and send them for medical treatment.
“We don’t give up easily. There are occasions when we spend three or even four days to trace a body and extricate it from unlikeliest of the places... but it all comes in the package. A life saved is our award,” Dastoor said.
PUT FENCE ON BRIDGES
Sociologists, psychologist as well as the fire brigade personnel think that some of these suicides could have been prevented.
Says leading psychologist Bhalchandra Joshi, “Figures are stunning. You have looked at only the suicides committed by plunge in the river. If you take into account other suicides the situation is alarming. We talk of growth and are proud of it, but we do not talk of human development.”
Dr Joshi favoured putting up fence on the bridges on the Sabarmati so that people will not be able to jump off them easily. “Put nets on the bridges on the river the way they have been installed along the Narmada canal. Though this is not the real solution, it can definitely bring down the numbers as passersby will spot anyone trying to climb up the net and hence prevent him or her from jumping into the river,” he said.
Anju Sheth, founder member of Saath, an NGO that works on suicide prevention, echoed the idea. “Fencing at these prime spots is needed. Usually, those who come to jump off these bridges, look around for opportunities and they jump off when nobody is around. It is easy due to their (bridges’) accessibility. Security must be deployed at the four corners,” she said.
‘PERSONAL LIFE IN TURMOIL’
Sociologist Gaurang Jani said the trend of more men killing themselves was not surprising. “The situation is the same all over the state except in Saurashtra where more women commit suicide than men.”
Dr Jani attributed the higher percentage of younger people committing suicide to the stress in personal life. “In most of the cases, they already suffer from communication gap with their families. Frustration in love, education, career or joblessness only complicates the matter for them. It puts a lot of pressure on them and makes them take the extreme step,” he said.
Education institutes should make the youth understand the importance of human life and repercussions of suicide on the surviving family members and friends. Even religious and political leaders have a role to play here as youth look at them as role model, Dr Jani said.
‘COUNSELLING NEEDED’
Counselling of the individuals as well as families is important. Elder should try to understand other members of the family and not always impose their will on them, Dr Joshi added.
Sheth strongly advocated message boards with positive lines at vantage points to help someone see hope. She said, “All this happens in just a few second. If there are some motivating posters, people may rethink and decide not to take such a drastic step. Whoever commits suicide, has a wish to die and also a wish to live. It is the government’s job to ensure that they think about the latter.”
