A sense of profound sorrow gripped Uttam Nagar East metro station after a 17-year-old boy committed suicide by throwing himself under a train. The Friday morning mishap not only claimed a young life but also halted services, affecting thousands of daily commuters in the national capital.
The sequence of events began at 11:07 AM when station controllers spotted the youth, later identified as Najafgarh’s Ashwini Dagar, jumping from platform 1. The incoming Dwarka metro train couldn’t stop in time, resulting in his instantaneous death. Delhi Metro authorities activated emergency protocols swiftly.
DCP Kushal Pal Singh of the Metro unit detailed the response: the body was extricated from the tracks and rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. Operations resumed after clearance, but not before causing significant delays.
Ashwini, who had aced Class 12, was enrolled in a local coaching institute for further exams. Relatives disclosed his prolonged mental turmoil stemming from private matters. Being the family’s only son, with his DTC driver father as the breadwinner, the void left behind is immeasurable.
An investigation under Section 194 BNSS is underway, with police counseling the bereaved family. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the pressures on India’s student population. Community leaders and psychologists are advocating for on-ground mental health awareness drives near coaching centers to avert future tragedies.