SRINAGAR: In a heart-wrenching incident near Srinagar’s Rajbagh, a desperate woman battling chronic depression attempted to end her life by jumping into the Jhelum River, tragically pulling her young niece, a 5-6-year-old girl, into the water as well.
Their lives, however, were saved by the timely intervention of Amit Koul, a Kashmiri Pandit, who displayed remarkable courage and humanity.
Recalling the ordeal, Koul shared with The New Indian, “I was out for my evening walk when I noticed the woman hurl her niece into the river before attempting to jump herself. I acted immediately, pulling both of them out of the water. We tried stopping passing vehicles for help, but no one responded. Finally, we managed to arrange an auto-rickshaw to rush them to the hospital.”
Their first stop was Lal Ded Hospital in Srinagar, but the medical staff directed them elsewhere, citing the unavailability of treatment facilities. The group then took the victims to SMHS Hospital, where the young girl underwent emergency surgery.
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Hospital sources revealed that while the woman is stable, the child remains in critical condition.
Police officials told The New Indian that the woman was reportedly overwhelmed by severe family issues, which likely drove her to take such an extreme step. “We have filed two FIRs — one for attempted murder against the woman and another for abetment to suicide,” an officer confirmed, adding that investigations are ongoing.
Koul’s heroic act serves as a stark reminder of the importance of community solidarity in preventing tragedies. Despite facing indifference from bystanders, his determination ensured the survival of two lives, shedding light on the urgent need for mental health support and public empathy in times of crisis.