In 4th suicide in a fortnight, 45-year-old leaps to death from Bandra-Worli Sea Link

MUMBAI: In the fourth suicide in a fortnight at the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Vikram Vasudev, 45, jumped off the bridge early on Monday morning. The Bandra police, with help from the fire brigade, were trying to trace the body till late in the night.
Vasudev, who lived with his wife and son at Prabhadevi in Dadar, lost another son to cancer a few years ago and went into depression. He was working at a private teaching institute and was facing financial problems, said the police.
The spate of suicides has taken the police by surprise and they say it is impossible for them to monitor every motorist on the 4.7km sea link. But they have started a few preventive measures in coordination with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) that owns the bridge.
Private guards on bikes have been deployed at both ends of the sea link to patrol the bridge and take action against motorists who halt. The squads are in touch with guards who watch the CCTV feed from across the sea link round the clock.
Vasudev left home at around 5.45am in his WagonR without telling his wife anything, said the police. He drove on to the sea link from the Worli-end, stopped his vehicle midway and plunged into the sea. Passing motorists and security guards saw him jump and informed the police control room.
The police said no suicide note was found in the car or Vasudev’s residence. Bandra police have registered an accidental death report and are inquiring Vasudev’s family members.
Nine suicides have been reported at the sea link at Worli and Bandra police stations so far this year. Of them, four happened since August 19, when businessman Lalchand Rathod gave up his battle against ill-health and jumped into the sea. On August 28, Kandivli buinessman Chintan Shah chose to end his life from the bridge. Two days later, Vikas Jhore, a BMC employee, leapt to death after arguments in the family. On Monday, Vasudev ended his life from the sea link.