Surat: A heart-wrenching incident has shaken residents of the Althan area after a woman and her two-year-old child died in an apparent suicide from the 13th floor of a residential tower on Wednesday evening. CCTV footage reviewed by police shows the mother carrying her child in the lift moments before the fall.
According to officials, the victims were 30-year-old Pooja Patel and her son Krishiv, residents of Martand Hills society. Pooja’s husband, Vileshkumar Patel, runs a loom factory, and the family originally hails from Mehsana. Neighbours recall the family leading a generally peaceful life before this devastating event.
CCTV Shows Final Moments
On Wednesday, Pooja went with her son to the 13th floor of the C-wing, reportedly to get a blouse stitched. When she found the intended house locked, she is believed to have moved toward the corridor and taken the extreme step of jumping with her child, sources told reporters.
The duo landed about 50 meters away from an idol of Lord Shreeji installed in the complex, abruptly turning the festive atmosphere into grief. Shocked residents gathered at the site, and an emergency call was made to the 108 ambulance service.
Ambulance Rushed, Doctors Confirm Deaths
Both mother and child were rushed to Surat’s civil hospital in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, doctors declared them dead on arrival due to the severity of the fall from such a height.
Scenes of mourning spread across the society, with neighbours and relatives struggling to process the sudden loss. “The atmosphere changed in an instant where there was devotion and routine life, now there is silence and sorrow,” a resident told local reporters.
Police Begin Investigation
The Althan police have initiated an inquiry, including a detailed review of CCTV footage and statements from family members and neighbours. Authorities said a panel postmortem is being conducted in the presence of the Mamlatdar to confirm the cause of death.
While the exact motive remains unclear, police officials said that prima facie it appears to be a case of suicide. “We are examining CCTV clips and taking depositions from relatives. Further investigation into the circumstances is underway,” officials noted.
Family in Deep Grief
For Vileshkumar Patel, the sudden loss of his wife and only child is described by friends as an “unbearable tragedy.” Relatives from both families have arrived and are inconsolable, while community members and neighbours have gathered to offer support.
This incident has left the entire Martand Hills society devastated, with discussions of the tragedy spreading across Surat. Residents have been offering prayers for the departed souls even as police continue their probe into what pushed Pooja to take such a drastic step.
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