Tragic Loss as a Law Student's Suicide Halts Bengaluru Metro Services

Tragedy struck the Bengaluru metro system as a young law student, identified as Dhruv Jatin Thakkar, aged 19, took his own life by jumping in front of a moving train at the Attiguppe metro station around 2:15 pm on Thursday. Following the incident, metro operations on the Magadi Road-Challaghatta route were halted for two hours.

Thakkar, a first-year BA LLB student at the esteemed National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru, originally from Mumbai, was found deceased at the scene. Law enforcement has initiated an investigation into the matter, categorizing it as an unnatural death. This sorrowful event marks the second suicide within the Namma Metro system, with the first occurring in 2012 when a 17-year-old boy took a similar tragic action at the MG Road metro station.

According to acquaintances, Thakkar had been struggling emotionally even before his enrollment at the university. Despite attending classes on the day of the incident, his peers described him as disturbed. After his last class concluded at 11:30 am, attempts by his father to reach him via phone were unsuccessful.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) S Girish stated that preliminary investigations point towards suicide, revealing that Thakkar arrived alone at the metro station directly from the university. The NLSIU community, deeply saddened by the loss, remembered Thakkar as a kind-hearted and diligent student. Consequently, all classes for the remainder of the week were suspended, and a condolence meeting was scheduled.

This incident underscores a broader concern regarding mental health and safety within the metro system, with previous instances of attempted suicides and tragedies recorded. The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has taken steps to enhance safety measures, including the installation of platform railings and the consideration of platform screen doors (PSDs) at future metro stations.

Regrettably, Thakkar's demise adds to a series of similar incidents within educational institutions, prompting calls for greater support and awareness regarding mental health issues among students.