Mumbai: Wife of Western Railway’s top official ‘jumps’ to death

Wife of Western Railway’s principal chief mechanical engineer allegedly committed suicide. (Representational)

THE WIFE of Western Railway’s principal chief mechanical engineer allegedly committed suicide on Monday by jumping from the fifth floor of their residential quarters at Badhwar Park in Colaba.

Police said Neeta Agarwal (58), the wife of A K Agarwal, was rushed to the Jagjivan Ram hospital, where she was declared brought dead by the doctors.

“At the time of the incident, around 11.55 am, A K Agarwal was at work. Their son studies engineering in Bangalore. The couple stayed on the second floor of the six-storey building… but the deceased went to the fifth floor and jumped from the terrace,” said an officer from Colaba police, which has registered an accidental death report into the case.

Officers said that they have recorded Agarwal’s statement and that no suicide note was found at the spot.

When contacted, Agarwal said his wife was suffering from diabetes and may have taken her life owing to her illness. He, however, claimed that Neeta was not unhappy.

“She was suffering from diabetes, hyper tension and migraine. Off late, she also faced gas trouble. She would constantly complain about the amount of medication she had to take every day. She felt very anxious and have suicidal thoughts earlier as well,” he said.

Agarwal has been staying at Badhwar Park railway colony for the last three years.  While Neeta was a homemaker, she taught meditation to her neighbours.

“We had consulted many doctors but we did not get any positive result. But Neeta had shown good recovery after taking ayurvedic medicines two months ago. Only last night, we were at a friend’s house where we enjoyed a performance by some artists. She was so happy and kept talking to me about it. Again in the morning today, as we had tea together, not once did she tell me that she was unhappy or depressed,” he said.

Later this week, Agarwal was slated to go to New Delhi to assume his post as additional member (Mechanical Engineering), Railway Board.

“Perhaps she was anxious to go to a new place. We have changed 13 houses in the past due to my postings. It (suicide) was a decision taken at the spur of a moment,” he said.