Brave cab driver saves woman attempting suicide in western India
by Aditi VermaA woman attempting suicide by jumping off the bridge in western India’s Maharashtra was saved by a vigilant cab driver, who held onto her hair until the police arrived.
The incident took place at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Shivdi-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai on August 16.
Visuals showed the vehicle stopping on Atal Setu, with the Nhava Sheva police’s patrolling van arriving shortly after. The woman was seen throwing the photos into the sea. Upon seeing the police, she attempted to jump, but cab driver Sanjay Yadav grabbed her by the hair. Subsequently, the traffic police saved the woman who was attempting to commit suicide.
In a dramatic incident on the evening of August 16, a 56-year-old woman, Reema Patel, attempted to end her life by jumping off the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Atal Setu, connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The woman, who initially stopped her cab on the bridge under the pretext of immersing religious photos into the sea, was noticed by the cab driver, Sanjay Yadav, just as she prepared to jump.
The woman, following instructions from her spiritual guru, had first gone to the Airoli bridge but later decided on Atal Setu due to its deeper waters. After stopping the cab, she began throwing photos into the sea when she lost her balance and nearly fell over the railing. The quick-thinking driver grabbed her by the hair, preventing her from falling.
At the same time, a patrol van from the Nhava Sheva Traffic Police, which was in the vicinity, noticed the commotion and quickly arrived on the scene. The police, with the driver’s assistance, managed to pull the woman back to safety.
The entire incident was recorded on CCTV, adding to concerns about the rising number of suicides on the bridge. Authorities noted that this is the third such incident reported on the Atal Setu, raising alarms about the safety and security measures needed in such vulnerable areas.
The woman later told the police that she was not attempting suicide but was instead performing a religious ritual. However, the prompt actions of the driver and police ensured that what could have been a tragic event was averted.